threaten

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

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 Prosecutors allege Thornton called the Office of Lawyer Regulation staff more than 70 times, at times making threatening comments to staff members, and at one point asked for Karofsky's home address. Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 21 Oct. 2025 In 2003, then NBA commissioner David Stern threatened to cancel the WNBA season before an agreement was struck. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2025 Was Lee threatening Skull in the days before the attack? Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025 What does Generative AI threaten that wasn’t already under siege? Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Verb
  • But cuts to federal staff and programs that address chronic disease could endanger that progress, according to a new report released Thursday.
    Jonel Aleccia, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
  • In June, 17 endangered and threatened sea turtles were released into the waters off Cape Cod, including three green sea turtles.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The diplomatic declarations do nothing to help Palestinians in Gaza or those menaced by Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.
    Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Fragmentation menaced the web from the outset.
    Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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