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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Recent Examples of threaten
Michigan automakers are also suffering, with Ford shares down 15% and General Motors off 8% since the start of the conflict, as higher energy costs threaten both production expenses and consumer demand.
—
Benzinga, Freep.com, 14 Mar. 2026
High costs and low ridership have pushed the transit authority to threaten major service cuts – unless wary voters approve a regressive tax hike in November.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2026
Iranian officials have openly threatened ships that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that connects the Persian Gulf with the world's oceans.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
And severe thunderstorms with possibly damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail threaten the region on Monday, meteorologists in the NWS Newport/Morehead City office said on social media Saturday.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Benzinga, Freep.com, 14 Mar. 2026
High costs and low ridership have pushed the transit authority to threaten major service cuts – unless wary voters approve a regressive tax hike in November.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2026
Iranian officials have openly threatened ships that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that connects the Persian Gulf with the world's oceans.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
And severe thunderstorms with possibly damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail threaten the region on Monday, meteorologists in the NWS Newport/Morehead City office said on social media Saturday.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Verb
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The Yurok Tribe is leading the effort to bring the large, endangered vultures back to their historic homeland in Humboldt and Del Norte counties.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Experts said the changes could endanger the running of Mexico’s elections and make the governing party stronger.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some argue that the only way to stop Iran from menacing the region and its people is to crush this regime.—
Dennis Ross,
The Atlantic,
13 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 19 Mar. 2026.
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