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
Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Consuming the contents of jars could be life-threatening, HiPP said.
—Reuters, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026
Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 21 Apr. 2026
Nichols is charged with one count each of felony assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, threatening crime with intent to terrorize and vandalism, according to court documents.
—Dalila Muata, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threatening
Adjective
In two separate encounters on Monday, the Israeli air force struck and killed Hezbollah militants that the military said approached its troops in a threatening way.
—Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Consuming the contents of jars could be life-threatening, HiPP said.
—Reuters, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
Days later, agents arrested a man charged with threatening a mass shooting at an Ohio mosque.
—Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 21 Apr. 2026
Nichols is charged with one count each of felony assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, threatening crime with intent to terrorize and vandalism, according to court documents.
—Dalila Muata, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threatening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threatening
Adjective
-
Still, general manager Brett Veach smiled on Thursday when asked if this impending draft next week in Pittsburgh felt different because of all that looms over it.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2026
-
At the Jungle, outreach workers have canvassed the camp for weeks to warn residents of the impending sweep and to sign them up for slots at tiny homes or motels.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The biggest difference between Mythos and previous AI models was its ability to autonomously exploit vulnerabilities, an ominous new facet of the industry’s transition towards agentic models.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The team of astronomers credited for Apophis' discovery – David Tholen, Fabrizio Bernardi and the late Roy Tucker – were also responsible for coming up with the asteroid's ominous name.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Police on Friday closed Kensington Gardens, a central London park visited by thousands of tourists and local residents every day, after a group that Israel has linked to Iran posted a video claiming Israel’s nearby London embassy was going to be attacked with drones carrying dangerous substances.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Portage police added that while some students play the game safely using brightly colored water guns, others have created dangerous situations that can trigger panic.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
-
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
-
Chesnutt wasn’t alone in these sometimes sinister tones.—
David Harris,
SPIN,
21 Apr. 2026
-
But then that progressive veneer is implicated in something deeply sinister.—
Brittany Delay,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The process generates minimal hazardous waste, and the solvent can be reused, reducing both environmental impact and operating costs.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The company’s new Soko Shadow dye technique gives garments unique, multi-tone depth while eliminating the discharge of hazardous chemicals.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Robinson was charged and pleaded no contest to felony endangering the welfare of children in March 2023.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Additional charges included negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Plan ahead as much as possible Nailing down all the angles of your trip ahead of time can save you both a lot of headaches and a significant amount of money.—
Becca Stanek,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The November 2024 ceasefire was the best possible alternative at the time — certainly better than more war.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Threatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threatening. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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