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
Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 21 Oct. 2025
In 2003, then NBA commissioner David Stern threatened to cancel the WNBA season before an agreement was struck.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Oct. 2025
Isbell was charged federally with mailing a threatening communication, according to the DOJ.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2025
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
The state can fairly easily police the requirement that Max be installed on new phones by threatening phone companies that don’t comply or even jailing their executives.
—Justin Sherman, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Verb
Prosecutors allege Thornton called the Office of Lawyer Regulation staff more than 70 times, at times making threatening comments to staff members, and at one point asked for Karofsky's home address.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 21 Oct. 2025
In 2003, then NBA commissioner David Stern threatened to cancel the WNBA season before an agreement was struck.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The first Tennessean arrested in connection with a threatening social media post referencing Charlie Kirk's shooting death made his first court appearance and has his second scheduled to determine bond.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Oct. 2025
Isbell was charged federally with mailing a threatening communication, according to the DOJ.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Flooding will extend inland from the waterfront threatening some homes and businesses.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
The state can fairly easily police the requirement that Max be installed on new phones by threatening phone companies that don’t comply or even jailing their executives.
—Justin Sherman, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Adjective
-
The contention over Bad Bunny's impending performance at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show roils on.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
-
An impending federal ruling is expected to strip Texas DACA recipients of their work authorizations, impacting tens of thousands of people in the state.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Several stories account for the ominous name of the stark, forbidding mountains.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This means too much potassium in your blood, which can be dangerous if not treated.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The Mark is a spy flick centered on Eden (Alba), an enigmatic spy on a covert and dangerous mission.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The film that introduced us to both Anya Taylor-Joy and the concept of pilgrim horror, The Witch flew onto the big screen like a sinister crow during a frigid New England winter.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
-
To prevent this sinister tax, the White House should announce a set of retaliation measures.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These alerts address hazards such as sneaker waves, rip currents, shore break, and hazardous surf—all of which can lead to serious injury or death for swimmers, surfers, and coastal visitors.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Chicken in a steam table and gyro meat on the vertical rotisserie, both potentially hazardous foods, measured at temperatures outside the range considered safe.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Besides religion, what are other possible reasons a person might have executed a forgery?—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
-
As Myles Lewis-Skelly dribbled up the left wing, the Brazilian made sure to come as central as possible before calling for a cross.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
For bones, spirits, and some menacing dolls, here’s where to go for a fright.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
-
But an uninspired and shallow story – which includes a rape scene demanded by the studio – hampers his attempts to entice us with a chilling and menacing tone.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Some people view asking for more compensation as less risky than switching to a new job.—
Cathy Bussewitz,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
-
With thousands of such satellites up there, even engaging in amateur astronomy as a hobby — looking at the night sky through a telescope or binoculars — would suddenly become an extremely risky activity.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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