THREATENED Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

threatened 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of threatened

as in endangered

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

threatened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of threaten

as in menaced

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 threatened

Adjective

However, the work, done with Tanzanian government partners, helps track threatened species and monitor human activity that endangers the region’s wildlife, making the few cameras lost in the process all the more worth it. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026 One thorny issue has been how to deal with threatened wastewater infrastructure on San Francisco’s coast, along Ocean Beach. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

Verb

As Judy’s life’s work is threatened, audiences around the world are learning her name. — Rebekah Taussig, Time, 28 Oct. 2026 Students reported feeling threatened or afraid to be on campus. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for threatened

Recent Examples of Synonyms for threatened

Adjective

The sites selected for the projects—one in Cook Inlet, Alaska, and one in the Gulf of Maine—are smack in the middle of two endangered whale populations’ habitats.

— Ryan Green, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
Recently, Bezos’ Earth Fund committed $100 million to a new environmental alliance looking to save endangered species from extinction.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of endangered

Verb

He was menaced in the English countryside last month by a man shouting at him from 50 yards away, according to British outlet The Telegraph.

— Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 6 June 2026
The little people are being menaced by a dark force—a force with power, money, and very few moral inhibitions.

— Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026

Definition of menaced

Adjective

If proven guilty, 28-year-old Mickschl could be liable for thousands of dollars in repair costs, the administrator told him.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026
In August 2025, Allen was found liable by default rather than following a trial in which a jury weighed the competing accounts.

— Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of liable

Adjective

The fact is, the bill helps to preserve Medicaid for those who need it most, including low-income families, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
But that leaves the intricate energy system vulnerable to shocks.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of vulnerable

Adjective

Nearly 40% of Mount Pinos, lodgepole chipmunk, an imperiled subspecies of the lodgepole chipmunk, also live in roadless areas in California.

— Mariah Meek, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
There are many issues in the last year that show the commission needs a change at the top, including the Florida black bear hunt and the recent failure of the commissioners to fully, completely and finally stop the capture of wild imperiled and threatened marine life for exhibit.

— Joe Murphy, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026

Definition of imperiled

Adjective

Checking plans before execution The team also developed a defense system called PROTEA, designed to identify unsafe actions before a robot carries them out.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
The meat may have been stored in a refrigerator experiencing unsafe deviations in temperature.

— Eva Flowe October 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of unsafe

Adjective

Kirshner says most units aren’t susceptible and that the issues appear quickly on units with the defect.

— Jay Peters, The Verge, 26 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of susceptible

Adjective

The end result would be a gassy surface shining as brightly as a more exposed black hole but with the Balmer break and smooth red hump of a 5,000-kelvin star, de Graaff and Naidu theorized.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026
Morgan Stanley said Equinix and Digital Realty are less exposed because their facilities average roughly 5 to 10 megawatts, far below the gigawatt-scale AI campuses planned by hyperscalers and neocloud operators.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of exposed

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“Threatened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threatened. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of threatened

adjective

verb

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