threatened; threatening
ˈthret-niŋ 
ˈthre-tᵊn-iŋ
1
: to utter threats against
2
3
: to announce as intended or possible
the workers threatened a strike
4
: to cause to feel insecure or anxious
felt threatened by his brother's success
Synonyms
Examples of threaten in a Sentence
The mugger threatened him with a gun.
She threatened to quit if they didn't give her a raise, but no one believed her.
Civil war has been threatening the country for years.
a marriage threatened by financial problems
Overfishing threatens the survival of certain fish species.
The latest news threatens trouble for the economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Yass has reportedly threatened to stop donating to Congress members who support the ban against TikTok, which would threaten his multi-billion dollar investment in the app.
—
Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
The proposal comes as California legislators are shoring up legal resources in anticipation of litigation with incoming President Donald Trump, who has threatened to withhold disaster aid relief for wildfires like the ongoing infernos in Los Angeles.
—Lia Russell and, Sacramento Bee, 10 Jan. 2025
Relying on and working with Democrats has frustrated George, who has threatened to censure Burrows, a move that would prevent him from appearing on a primary ballot for two years.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
With climate change altering rainfall patterns and making droughts both more likely and more intense, destructive wildfires like the ones in the Los Angeles area will continue to threaten people’s lives and livelihoods, Moritz said.
—Janhvi Bhojwani, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for threaten 
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Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
The proposal comes as California legislators are shoring up legal resources in anticipation of litigation with incoming President Donald Trump, who has threatened to withhold disaster aid relief for wildfires like the ongoing infernos in Los Angeles.
—Lia Russell and, Sacramento Bee, 10 Jan. 2025
Relying on and working with Democrats has frustrated George, who has threatened to censure Burrows, a move that would prevent him from appearing on a primary ballot for two years.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
With climate change altering rainfall patterns and making droughts both more likely and more intense, destructive wildfires like the ones in the Los Angeles area will continue to threaten people’s lives and livelihoods, Moritz said.
—Janhvi Bhojwani, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for threaten
Dictionary Entries Near threaten
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threaten. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
threaten
verb
threat·en
ˈthret-ᵊn
threatened; threatening
ˈthret-niŋ
-ᵊn-iŋ
1
: to utter threats : make threats against
threaten trespassers with arrest
2
: to give signs or warning of
clouds threatening rain
3
: to be an imminent danger to : menace
hunger threatens the town
4
: to announce as intended or possible
the workers threatened a strike
threatened to buy a car
5
: to cause to feel insecure or anxious
felt threatened by his friend's success
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