1
as in impending
giving signs of immediate occurrence
economists warning of a threatening recession
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
a threatening silence followed the loud thump in the adjoining motel room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury
threatening rocks lined that narrow stretch of the river through which we would be rafting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in menacing
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on
the powerful hurricane continues to threaten the southern coastline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of threatening
Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
On Wednesday, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged the woman with burglary, carrying a loaded firearm in public and displaying a firearm in a threatening manner.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Jeffrey Epstein has sparked a political crisis threatening the UK government.
—Ian King, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threatening
Adjective
The 61-year-old worked as a driver for Uber and had gone to an address in South Charleston, Ohio, to pick up a package – not realizing the man who lived there had just received threatening calls.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
On Wednesday, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged the woman with burglary, carrying a loaded firearm in public and displaying a firearm in a threatening manner.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
The project is based on a video game that launched in 2015 and the sequel, Helldivers 2, sold over 12 million units and centers on an elite unit of soldiers—known as Helldivers— who must battle alien creatures threatening to destroy the fictional planet of Super Earth.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Jeffrey Epstein has sparked a political crisis threatening the UK government.
—Ian King, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threatening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threatening
Adjective
-
Unless there is more to the Leonard story indicating an impending punishment from the NBA, this is an absolute disservice to Clippers fans this year and in immediate years to come.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Room for Disagreement Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, warned of an impending recession, in part due to consumption outpacing wages.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But for now, his parting words were ominous.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The ominous silence is more evidence of a city mired in political intrigue with too little transparency.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Without reliably cold temperatures, snow is wetter and thinner, conditions are rainier — and for athletes that can be dangerous.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Luge is the most dangerous of the three sliding sports (bobsled and skeleton are the others) — ironic because athletes in that event actually have the most control.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Chinese, too, are absolutely shocked that a great power is menacing a small neighbor and inflicting regime change by military force.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
3 Jan. 2026
-
As the two catch up, Crudup veers from good-natured to sorrowful to bitter to menacing in a matter of minutes.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
While some post harmless content such as gym routines and self-improvement advice, other accounts are more sinister.—
Ivana Scatola,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
And then there's Reinhardt's sinister robot sidekick Maximilian, a silent, malevolent presence who has no qualms about slicing up humans with his Swiss Army Knife-esque collection of torture devices.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The study, and the training, include best practices for handling and disposing of hazardous waste, Gabriel said.—
Rachel Becker,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
At least 12 of the 169 chemicals detected in the new analysis have been associated with cancer, birth defects and reproductive issues and are included in California’s Proposition 65 hazardous chemicals list.—
Aude Konan,
Scientific American,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Contact your legislator to express your support for keeping these DIY machine guns from endangering our communities.—
Cindy Camp,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Feb. 2026
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Additionally, if humans on the beach disturb or damage the bird’s habitat, adult plovers will abandon their nests for long periods of time, endangering the unhatched chicks, the bird alliance said.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Tuesday night development in the case comes hours after the release of doorbell camera footage of a possible suspect in the disappearance.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Threatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threatening. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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