threat

1 of 2

noun

ˈthret 

1

: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage

2

: one that threatens

3

: an indication of something impending

the sky held a threat of rain

threat

2 of 2

verb

threated; threating; threats

archaic

: threaten

Synonyms of threat

Noun

• danger
• menace
• risk
• peril

Examples of threat in a Sentence

Noun

He was willing to use violence and threats to get what he wanted.

She ignored their threats and continued to do what she felt was right.

a country under threat of civil war

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The threat of severe weather continued in the nation's midsection, with strong thunderstorms possible from Texas northeast all the way to Ohio and western Pennsylvania and New York. —Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026

The main threats across the South are large hail and damaging winds, but tornadoes cannot be ruled out. —Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026

Last year, the council identified tornadoes, epidemics, ice storms, information systems failures and communications failures as the area's biggest emergency threats. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026

Disputes on enrichment and inspections are meant to be addressed through diplomacy and international oversight, not immediate bombardment absent a clear, urgent threat. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English thret coercion, threat, from Old English thrēat coercion; akin to Middle High German drōz annoyance, Latin trudere to push, thrust

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing threat

• bomb threat
• counter-threat
• empty threat
• idle threat
• triple threat
• under threat

Rhymes for threat

• bet
• brett
• debt
• et
• fret
• get
• jet
• let
• lett
• met
• net
• nett

Kids Definition

threat

noun

ˈthret

1

: an expression of an intent to do harm

stop making threats

2

: something that threatens

the volcano was a threat to the village

3

: an indication of something impending

the sky held a threat of rain

Legal Definition

threat

noun

: an expression of an intention to injure another : menace sense 1

criminal laws against making terroristic threats