threatening

adjective

threat·​en·​ing ˈthret-niŋ How to pronounce threatening (audio)
ˈthre-tᵊn-iŋ
: expressing or suggesting a threat of harm, danger, etc.
received a threatening message
a threatening manner
: indicating or suggesting the approach of possible trouble or danger
saw threatening clouds on the horizon
threateningly
ˈthret-niŋ-lē
ˈthre-tᵊn-iŋ- How to pronounce threatening (audio)
adverb
gestured threateningly

Examples of threatening in a Sentence

economists warning of a threatening recession a threatening silence followed the loud thump in the adjoining motel room threatening rocks lined that narrow stretch of the river through which we would be rafting
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Police find threatening letter Jiang was approached by church volunteers, who were concerned over his behavior, when authorities responded on Sept. 24, 2023, according to prosecutors. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025 The student who allegedly caused the lockdown was charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds, second-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2025 The court was told his father, James Nybo, 40, had allegedly sent threatening and abusive text messages and was armed with a baseball bat at the time of the confrontation. Latoya Gayle, People.com, 21 Feb. 2025 The escalation makes this sizable space rock the most threatening ever forecasted to impact Earth, although the prospect for catastrophe remains relatively slim: the chance for a direct hit is now one in 32. Lee Billings, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for threatening

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of threatening was in 1530

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Threatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threatening. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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