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
But a rash of injuries threaten their strong start to the 2024 season and raise serious concerns about the challenging road ahead.
—
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Late last month, President Donald Trump spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and agreed to put off threatened 30% tariffs for another 90 days to allow for negotiations.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Nationwide, the disappearance of vital water sources threatens agriculture, undermines electricity production and worsens air quality—placing both the environment and public health in jeopardy.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Late last month, President Donald Trump spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and agreed to put off threatened 30% tariffs for another 90 days to allow for negotiations.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Nationwide, the disappearance of vital water sources threatens agriculture, undermines electricity production and worsens air quality—placing both the environment and public health in jeopardy.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Verb
-
The wood stork was once endangered with only 5,000 nesting pairs in the United States in the 1970s, but as of 2023 that had grown to more than 11,000 nesting pairs, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Filed in 2023, the lawsuit comes from a group of Tennessee women who say their lives were endangered after they were denied emergency abortions under the state’s ban.—
Kelly Puente,
Nashville Tennessean,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Down the road from Ford’s Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Colby Wu, co-owner of Stratus Plastics, laid out a series of near-death experiences that have menaced the company founded by his father, William Wu, who came with his family as refugees from Mao’s China in 1965.—
Ian Austen,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
-
And that burgeoning population, menaced by poverty and the police, felt the city’s malignance.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share