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
1
as in impending
giving signs of immediate occurrence
economists warning of a threatening recession
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of threaten
Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
Daily record lows will be threatened today in parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, the Carolinas, southeast Louisiana and even Florida.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Nov. 2025
Officials in New Jersey have not indicated the source of Tuesday's threatening emails.
—Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2025
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
Anjali Bhargava, the owner of Anjali’s Cup, which sells chai concentrate and turmeric blends, said the current economic climate and tariffs are threatening her livelihood.
—Shawn Baldwin, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Verb
One of the breakthrough successes of last year’s COP29 summit is already losing steam, threatening what was meant to be a major new source of capital for carbon-cutting projects.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
Daily record lows will be threatened today in parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, the Carolinas, southeast Louisiana and even Florida.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
The rest have non-life threatening injuries, spokesperson David McArthur said in an email to The Courier Journal.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Nov. 2025
Officials in New Jersey have not indicated the source of Tuesday's threatening emails.
—Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
In Isfahan, women have received threatening text messages for not wearing hijab.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
Anjali Bhargava, the owner of Anjali’s Cup, which sells chai concentrate and turmeric blends, said the current economic climate and tariffs are threatening her livelihood.
—Shawn Baldwin, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Adjective
-
Jeff Bezos' company postpones New Glenn launch New Glenn was fueled up and vertical on the launch pad ahead of an impending launch before Blue Origin ultimately called it off about 90 minutes after the window opened.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Outside of the coach, his wife and his successor, Frank Solich, no one knew of Osborne’s impending retirement.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Trying to outrun the ominous presence, Eve will face the darkest parts of herself and uncover what she is made of.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Chicago is facing a dangerous lake-effect snow event early Monday morning.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Two decades ago, when the NFL's base offense consisted of two backs with a blocking tight end and only two wide receivers, an elite cornerback could often take away half of the dangerous receiving options.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
But as old tensions flare between them, Katie begins to experience terrifying visions and a ghostly presence warning of something sinister lurking aboard.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Which casts a show seemingly designed to bypass all judgments with respect to storytelling and taste, gliding straight to the pleasure center of some imaginary horny, enraged, shopaholic feminine id, in a fairly sinister light.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The result, Kahn says, is that parts of Earth’s orbital environment are rife with hazardous objects that can collide with vital space infrastructure.—
Humberto Basilio,
Scientific American,
7 Nov. 2025
-
All seven patients were cleared almost immediately and no hazardous materials turned up on base, Fox News is told.—
Jennifer Griffin , Christina Shaw,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
If the court accepts the case, oral arguments could be scheduled for the spring, with a possible decision by June.—
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Sustained, strong winds are possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The film ends with Dek standing alongside Thia and Bud, his new clan, as a large, menacing Yautja ship appears on the horizon.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The right-hander generated a ground ball to get the force out at home in an extremely close call, and the very next pitch was a risky fly out tracked down by Andy Pages (who entered the game after the bases were loaded).—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The seedless doctrine For years, Tangem campaigned against seed phrases as risky and error-prone, arguing that paper or metal backups become a single, theft-prone secret that ordinary people routinely mishandle.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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