as in threatens
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on
as long as the possibility of having to move again was hanging over them, the family couldn't really settle in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hangs (over)
threatens
Verb
-
The message here is that lack of trust threatens to stall growth, transformation and innovation, and businesses must put in the effort to earn credibility through transparency, accountability and a commitment to aligning themselves with customer values.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026 -
By the closing epilogue of the MM romance novel, the author must figure out how to create honest stakes for a gay couple in an overwhelmingly heteronormative context that threatens the heroes with societal subjugation and maybe even physical punishment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Hangs (over).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hangs%20%28over%29. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
