THREATENED Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

threatened 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of threatened

as in endangered

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Dissimilar Words

threatened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of threaten

as in menaced

to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on the powerful hurricane continues to threaten the southern coastline

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 threatened

Adjective

Celebración de los Árboles Lisle, Illinois At The Morton Arboretum, Celebración de los Árboles (September 26-27) sheds light on the arboretum’s conservation work to protect threatened trees and ecosystems in Latin America. — Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 15 Sep. 2026 Tucson, Arizona, Santa Fe, New Mexico and Cedar City, Utah are among the cities in threatened zones. — ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

Indeed, in the Pacific, hurricanes have threatened Hawaii to an unusually high degree this season. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026 In several messages quoted in the ruling, Seaver allegedly threatened Nozell and other people connected to Parton’s estate. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for threatened

Recent Examples of Synonyms for threatened

Adjective

The new study comes about six months after the emperor penguin was declared an endangered species.

— CBS News, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
If there are any issues with a particular trail that Coles has identified needs repairs — like if an endangered species is known to live in a creek next to the trail — the Forest Service could deny his request, thus leaving the trail unmaintained.

— Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of endangered

Verb

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.

— Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 6 June 2026
The little people are being menaced by a dark force—a force with power, money, and very few moral inhibitions.

— Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026

Definition of menaced

Adjective

An alignment takes place, as the legacy media consistently allows Rowling, as one of their own, to get away with removing trans women from their verifiable position as a vulnerable demographic.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
The evening brought plenty of laughs, but also a recognition that the progress CAPE and the broader AAPI entertainment community have made remains vulnerable amid an industry facing contraction, layoffs, and shrinking opportunities.

— Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of vulnerable

Adjective

Nearly 40% of Mount Pinos, lodgepole chipmunk, an imperiled subspecies of the lodgepole chipmunk, also live in roadless areas in California.

— Mariah Meek, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
There are many issues in the last year that show the commission needs a change at the top, including the Florida black bear hunt and the recent failure of the commissioners to fully, completely and finally stop the capture of wild imperiled and threatened marine life for exhibit.

— Joe Murphy, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026

Definition of imperiled

Adjective

While the government touted Rubin’s overtime savings, Local 64 leaders said the cuts meant less staff and resulted in unsafe operations.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026
This swelling warps the battery’s internal structure and accelerates degradation, making large-format cells unsafe and short-lived.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of unsafe

Adjective

Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
The most susceptible areas will be Long Beach and the Avalon Harbor on Tuesday and Wednesday and then Malibu through Ventura County from Wednesday through Friday.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of susceptible

Adjective

The end result would be a gassy surface shining as brightly as a more exposed black hole but with the Balmer break and smooth red hump of a 5,000-kelvin star, de Graaff and Naidu theorized.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026
Morgan Stanley said Equinix and Digital Realty are less exposed because their facilities average roughly 5 to 10 megawatts, far below the gigawatt-scale AI campuses planned by hyperscalers and neocloud operators.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of exposed

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“Threatened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threatened. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of threatened

adjective

verb

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