threatening 1 of 2

adjective

ˈthret-niŋ How to pronounce threatening (audio)
Definition of threateningnext
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

threatening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of threaten
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

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 threatening
Adjective
The affidavit also reported that Fang contacted police to report a threatening message early on. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 16 July 2026 Although their conditions are unknown, officials said the injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 15 July 2026
Verb
One teenager suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound and got to the hospital on their own before officers arrived, according to the statement. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 July 2026 If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter. — Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for threatening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threatening
  1. impending
  2. ominous
  3. dangerous
  4. menacing
  5. possible
  6. sinister
  7. hazardous
  8. endangering
Adjective
  • One To Watch Morgan Rogers’ impending move from Aston Villa to Chelsea could have significant ripple effects on the wider market.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • When Madigan resigned in 2021, in addition to his impending corruption scandal, the Hampton story hung over him — and his party — like a black cloud.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Definition of impending
Adjective
  • The ominous acts would later be debunked and deemed fake by the FBI in July.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • Things are also tough for their friends, Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Tao (William Gao), whose constant bickering seems to be an ominous portent for their on-again-off-again relationship.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of ominous
Adjective
  • Experts agree that allowing external services to access Apple’s and Google’s operating systems could be dangerous for security and user privacy.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • Sources additionally say that officers have burnt out while working overtime month after month — all on top of functioning in an already tense and dangerous environment, likening the situation to a powder keg ready to blow.
    — Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 19 July 2026
Definition of dangerous
Verb
  • Santiago was charged with menacing a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon.
    — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Some argue that the only way to stop Iran from menacing the region and its people is to crush this regime.
    — Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of menacing
Adjective
  • Widespread totals of 2 to 4 inches, with up to 6 inches in the strongest thunderstorms, are possible from the western Florida Panhandle to southern portions of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and possibly the Texas coast.
    — Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • To make that possible, companies must study their audience, track behavior, collect feedback and continually improve the experience rather than treating the website as a frozen asset.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • There was something so sinister about FIFA pushing the idea of diversity while bending the knee to a government working to discard the real thing.
    — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
  • Outside, the cops, led by a dry sinister officer in a long black leather coat, order him to get on the ground, face down; Sophia comes out of the house and is placed in the back of a car, staring at all this through the glass.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of sinister
Adjective
  • Anything other than a plane crash, such as a building fire, medical emergency or hazardous materials spill at the airport, is handled by the Carlsbad Fire Department, and a large incident would bring in mutual aid from other agencies in the region.
    — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
  • The project is being led by Li Mingtao, chief scientist for planetary defense at the China National Space Administration, and is intended to advance technologies that could one day help protect Earth from hazardous near-Earth objects.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026
Definition of hazardous
Verb
  • Both he and his wife Kendra were charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second-degree and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment in an Arkansas court case for which they are set to appear in August.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
  • The driver exited the freeway into Koreatown and continued speeding through surface streets, at times crossing into opposing lanes and endangering morning commuters.
    — Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of endangering

Browse Nearby Words

threatened
threatening
threatens
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Threatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threatening. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on threatening

Nglish: Translation of threatening for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of aerie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All