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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of threaten
Israel has said that the 600,000 people that have been displaced in southern Lebanon won’t be allowed to return to their homes until Hezbollah no longer threatens northern Israel.
—
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The mayor often attended disruptive anti-Israel protests threatening violence and posted videos of himself aggressively confronting police who were on the scene to protect public safety.
—Andrew Cuomo, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026
Mohammadi was then sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of threatening national security.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 2 May 2026
Shortages now threaten countries across South and Southeast Asia, where agriculture employs a large share of the workforce — raising food security risks for economies already under strain.
—Wendy Cutler, Fortune, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The mayor often attended disruptive anti-Israel protests threatening violence and posted videos of himself aggressively confronting police who were on the scene to protect public safety.
—Andrew Cuomo, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026
Mohammadi was then sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of threatening national security.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 2 May 2026
Shortages now threaten countries across South and Southeast Asia, where agriculture employs a large share of the workforce — raising food security risks for economies already under strain.
—Wendy Cutler, Fortune, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Verb
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Critics warn that openly discussing armed resistance could endanger protesters, deepen divisions inside the opposition and risk pushing Iran toward civil war.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
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Trump has accused Pope Leo XIV of being soft on terrorism and supporting negotiations with Iran, claiming the pontiff endangers Catholics by failing to oppose Iran’s potential acquisition of nuclear weapons.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Santiago was charged with menacing a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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