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
Arkansas Online, 6 June 2026
If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026
Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 8 June 2026
The victim were rushed by medics to Bellevue Hospital with wounds described as non life-threatening.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 8 June 2026
Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 3 June 2026
Yemeni terror group the Houthis are now threatening to jump in and harass ships in the area.
—Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Verb
That has fueled a broader rise in inflation as prices for anything being shipped move higher and threaten to slow economic growth.
—Arkansas Online, 6 June 2026
If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026
Adjective
Authorities said his condition is not life-threatening.
—Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 8 June 2026
The victim were rushed by medics to Bellevue Hospital with wounds described as non life-threatening.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 8 June 2026
Verb
As such, Democrats are threatening to oppose an extension of FISA.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 3 June 2026
Yemeni terror group the Houthis are now threatening to jump in and harass ships in the area.
—Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Verb
-
Like with Saenz, the no-contact order hinged on the evaluation of a psychologist, who testified that Michelle was angry and paranoid and might endanger their son in her pursuit of revenge against his father, according to court filings.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
4 June 2026
-
Clendenning said releasing Zeinab from custody would pose an unacceptable risk of endangering the safety and welfare of the public.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
They will be spearheaded by Nuno Espirito Santo, an impending director of football, and majority shareholder David Sullivan.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
Day to day, ordinary Peruvians in the coastal cities and in the interior are dealing with escalating crime, fear of impending natural disasters, and corruption and incompetence at every level of government.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
What matters is the atmosphere Muir creates, which is as dark and ominous as that of any black-metal record, and even more unsettling for its alienness.—
Brad Sanders,
Pitchfork,
8 June 2026
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Yet oil futures have not skyrocketed to the dangerous levels forecasters feared — at least not yet.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
-
Financial watchdogs view telecoms acting as dangerous regulatory arbitrage, fearing that seamless digital wallets are a backdoor for capital flight.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
8 June 2026
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
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
Adjective
-
In the film, actress Midori Francis plays Hana, a medical student who becomes terrorized by a sinister force after partaking in the latest dieting fad — eating human ashes.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2026
-
Yet a sinister rage brews within the former chef, flickering alive with the smallest spark.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Nearly as well-respected as DEET, picaridin is highly effective against the most hazardous mosquito breeds and, notably, won’t damage plastic or some synthetic fibers the way DEET does.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Strong longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers into rip currents, piers, jetties and other hazardous areas.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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