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

Then Mighten, setting a tone, set up the game’s first scoring threat. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have identified China’s robotics and AI ambitions as a national security threat and have little desire to give China any more access to critical US technologies. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 May 2026

When leaders send clear, honest signals, people can calibrate in the face of threat. —Deepti Hajela, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026

The taskforce was originally launched in Houston on October 1, 2025, and the operation led to the arrest of more than 700 repeat offenders who were high-threat criminals and gang members, as well as the confiscation of more than 200,000 doses of fentanyl. —Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 14 May 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