as in to endanger
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on
the powerful hurricane continues to threaten the southern coastline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of threaten
Progressives cite its emphasis on the dignity of work and workers, and on the need for government to regulate working conditions that threaten this dignity.
—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
27 June 2026
Officials have grown increasingly concerned since Anthropic warned earlier this year that its Mythos model was adept at finding software flaws in a way that could be weaponized by malicious hackers and threaten critical computer networks around the world.
—
Arkansas Online,
27 June 2026
Those challenges remind us that what some once viewed as threatening, others saw simply as a happy family that did not look like most others.
—
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2026
Congressional Republicans pressured local leadership, threatening to withhold millions in federal transportation funding unless the street was renamed and the mural was removed.
—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
27 June 2026
Officials have grown increasingly concerned since Anthropic warned earlier this year that its Mythos model was adept at finding software flaws in a way that could be weaponized by malicious hackers and threaten critical computer networks around the world.
—
Arkansas Online,
27 June 2026
Those challenges remind us that what some once viewed as threatening, others saw simply as a happy family that did not look like most others.
—
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2026
Congressional Republicans pressured local leadership, threatening to withhold millions in federal transportation funding unless the street was renamed and the mural was removed.
—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Verb
-
The zoo called Nangka's birth a major achievement for the genetic diversity and conservation of the species, which is critically endangered.
-
Court records show Pawnell faces charges including second-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child.
Verb
-
Centuries later, Zarkon continues to menace the universe.
-
He was menaced in the English countryside last month by a man shouting at him from 50 yards away, according to British outlet The Telegraph.
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
