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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of threaten
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Late last month, President Donald Trump spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and agreed to put off threatened 30% tariffs for another 90 days to allow for negotiations.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2025
President Donald Trump is once more threatening to lob massive duties on a wide swath of US imports, everything from copper and pharmaceuticals to goods from Japan and Russia.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
The Palisades fire has garnered headlines, but the Hurst and Eaton fires have also been threatening very populated areas.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Verb
But a rash of injuries threaten their strong start to the 2024 season and raise serious concerns about the challenging road ahead.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Late last month, President Donald Trump spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and agreed to put off threatened 30% tariffs for another 90 days to allow for negotiations.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Both men were transported and processed on charges including home invasion, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, second-degree threatening and first-degree strangulation/suffocation.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2025
President Donald Trump is once more threatening to lob massive duties on a wide swath of US imports, everything from copper and pharmaceuticals to goods from Japan and Russia.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
Verb
Richard curses again, threatening Blum.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
The Palisades fire has garnered headlines, but the Hurst and Eaton fires have also been threatening very populated areas.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Adjective
-
Experts have warned of an impending disaster, with food supplies running out by November.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The impending sale of striker Darwin Nunez - ironically to Al Hilal, which is also, like Newcastle, owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund - may bring Liverpool back to the table.—
Harry De Cosemo,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Aug. 2025
-
After an ominous July jobs report – which also showed that hiring was much weaker than originally reported in May and June – the central bank was widely expected to cut interest rates at its meeting next month in a bid to recharge hiring.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
That said, the Revolution had promising spells of attacking play and even looked the more dangerous side in the first half.—
Julian Cardillo,
Boston Herald,
17 Aug. 2025
-
In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For The Fin, his team worked to make the dim light extra grainy, giving it a particularly sinister quality.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Aug. 2025
-
This turns out to be another name for Galactus, a surprisingly scary Marvel villain played with sinister sincerity by Ralph Ineson.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
The pace of the 2025 fires is reminiscent of the record-breaking 2023 wildfire season, which exposed millions of people in North America to hazardous smoke levels.—
Jun Wang,
Space.com,
9 Aug. 2025
-
The collapse of the bridge also caused hazardous debris to enter the Colorado River waterway.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Their identifications were made possible by advanced DNA analysis of remains recovered from the attack, along with family outreach, said the OCME.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Residents who fall within a sensitive group should reduce outdoor time as much as possible.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The previous version of the immersive attraction brought guests face to face with the terrifying flickering TV screen, the menacing beast from beyond, and the pool filled with floating corpses.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The menacing attacker — described as 6′ to 6’2″ and wearing a black t-shirt, blue pants and tan shoes — took off north on Madison Ave.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Lateral passes are highly risky, offering opponents a chance to intercept and break.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Choose the concepts that challenge your thinking or open entirely new avenues — the ones that feel risky in an interesting way.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share