threaten

verb

threat·​en ˈthre-tᵊn How to pronounce threaten (audio)
threatened; threatening ˈthret-niŋ How to pronounce threaten (audio)
ˈthre-tᵊn-iŋ
Synonyms of threatennext

transitive verb

1
: to utter threats against
2
a
: to give signs or warning of : portend
the clouds threatened rain
b
: to hang over dangerously : menace
famine threatens the city
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

intransitive verb

1
: to utter threats
2
: to portend evil
threatener
ˈthret-nər How to pronounce threaten (audio)
ˈthre-tᵊn-ər
noun

Synonyms of threaten

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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
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.
The question of whether new states would be slave or free threatened to fracture the nation. — Jim Rasenberger, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026 If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter. — Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026 The film tells the story of the tender yet destructive friendship between two 13-year-old boys who run away when they are threatened with being separated. — Alissa Simon, Variety, 4 July 2026 Some protesters carried pink flamingo balloons, a reference to the birds supposedly threatened by the resort construction project. — ABC News, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for threaten

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of threaten was in the 13th century

Rhymes for threaten

See All Rhymes for threaten

Browse Nearby Words

threat
threaten
threatened
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threaten. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

threaten

verb
threat·​en ˈthret-ᵊn How to pronounce threaten (audio)
threatened; threatening ˈthret-niŋ How to pronounce threaten (audio)
-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
threateningly
ˈthret-niŋ-lē How to pronounce threaten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ-
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on threaten

Nglish: Translation of threaten for Spanish Speakers

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