THREAT Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

threat

noun

ˈthret

Definition of threat

as in danger

something that may cause injury or harm terrorism is a threat to the safety of people everywhere

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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 threat Microwave weapons can address groups of small aircraft, interceptors can physically destroy individual threats, electronic warfare can disrupt susceptible communications, and lasers can interfere with optical sensors. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026 As the Chicago meningococcal outbreak illustrates, health officials need a complete picture to protect people from disease and other threats. — Julie Morita, Time, 25 Oct. 2026 This includes threats to withdraw federal funding and initiation of new investigations against campuses that do not comply with the federal government’s agenda on topics like antisemitism and diversity, equity and inclusion. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026 The flood threat from Western Texas to southwest Kansas is expected to start winding down Monday, but some spotty flooding is still possible. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for threat

Recent Examples of Synonyms for threat

Noun

Earlier this week, missiles fired by the Houthis struck a residential area in Taiz, killing two teenage girls and renewing attention on the dangers faced by civilians.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Gigantic Fantastic also explores the development of steroids themselves, their physiological effects, as well as other image and performance-enhancing drugs and their dangers.

— Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of danger

Noun

In the sci-fi/horror film, Skerritt played Captain Dallas, one of the few who aligns with Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley as their intergalactic shipping crew is faced with a horrible menace.

— Dan Heching, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
Since then, a growing movement across North America is attempting to transform ecological menaces into culinary commodities, from Florida to Hawai’i, British Columbia, Maine, and the Mississippi River basin.

— Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of menace

Noun

The wide availability of low-cost, powerful open models is one reason Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned that open models in particular pose a risk of widespread and potentially devastating cyber attacks.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
That could represent either a benefit or a risk for shareholders, as decision-making would become faster but have fewer checks.

— Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of risk

Noun

The Elon Musk risk This whole episode serves as a potent reminder for every business of the unique perils and risks of dealing with Musk.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Yes, there is the expedition and the sort of peril and problems that come with that.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of peril

Browse Nearby Words

thready

threat

threaten

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“Threat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threat. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of threat

noun

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