as in to endanger
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on
the powerful hurricane continues to threaten the southern coastline
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of threaten
Israel's insistence that the ceasefire in Iran does not include a pause in its fighting with Hezbollah has threatened to sink the deal.
—
Azhar Sukri,kevin Breuninger,terri Cullen, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
No president should be able to threaten people in this way.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
In declarations to the court, children wrote that they felt threatened by the government’s advisals.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Azhar Sukri,kevin Breuninger,terri Cullen, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
No president should be able to threaten people in this way.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
In declarations to the court, children wrote that they felt threatened by the government’s advisals.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Verb
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Oisin McGuinness, 21, Nathan Dunn, 19, and a 16-year-old boy were all charged with arson with intent to endanger life, London’s Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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The timber rattlesnake is the only snake listed as endangered in Connecticut due to habitat loss and protected under state law.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What mattered more than his terseness was that Norris was allowed to land a few meaningful blows against the usually untouchable Lee, who stars as Tang Lung, a fighter summoned to defend a restaurant owner menaced by a crime boss.—
Chris Klimek,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
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Bruce, as the stunt shark built to menace them is nicknamed, is acting up and delaying the acting itself.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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