threat

[thret]

noun

1. a declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc., in retaliation for, or conditionally upon, some action or course.

   His family convinced him to take the anonymous threats seriously and call the police.

2. an indication or warning of probable trouble, or of being at risk for something terrible.

   The threat of a storm was in the air.

   He confessed under the threat of imprisonment.

3. a person or thing that threatens.

   Her attorney will try to convince the judge that she is not a threat to herself or others.

verb (used with or without object)

1. Archaic.,  to threaten.

   Do you dare to accuse and threat within my very home?

threat

/ θrɛt /

noun

1. a declaration of the intention to inflict harm, pain, or misery

2. an indication of imminent harm, danger, or pain

3. a person or thing that is regarded as dangerous or likely to inflict pain or misery

verb

1. an archaic word for threaten

Other Word Forms

• counterthreat noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of threat¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun thret(e) “crowd, multitude, verbal menace,” Old English thrēat “crowd, pressure, oppression, punishment”; cognate with Old Norse thraut “hardship, great struggle”; verb from the noun; threaten ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of threat¹

Old English; related to Old Norse thraut, Middle Low German drōt

Idioms and Phrases

see triple threat.

Example Sentences

It is fascinating that recent movies that attempt to grapple with contemporary sociopolitical issues often feminize the threat: the #MeToo cancel culture fable “Tár” or this year’s academia scandal film “After the Hunt.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ferguson said she had sent the email following a threat from Epstein.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A fourth was charged with felony assault, misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal threats.

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“Under international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permissible as a last resort against individuals who pose an imminent threat to life,” Türk added.

Read more on Salon

Louis moved to regain control over threats of disorder in Paris by summoning his loyal troops.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• blackmail 
• hazard 
• intimidation 
• menace 
• peril 
• risk 

When To Use

What does threat mean?

A threat is a statement indicating that you will cause harm to or create some other kind of negative consequences for someone, especially to pressure them to do something or not to do something.Many threats involve a promise to physically harm someone in retaliation for what they have done or might do. A bank robber who says he’ll shoot the bank teller if they don’t hand over the money is making a threat. Telling a bully that you’ll punch them if they don’t stop bothering your little brother is a threat. A death threat involves telling someone that they will be killed. Some threats are simply meant to intimidate, and don’t involve pressuring someone to do something.Not all threats involve violence. Telling your neighbor that you’re going to file a lawsuit if they don’t repair your fence that they broke is a threat.The word threat can also refer to someone or something that may potentially cause harm or damage. A hurricane is a threat to people and buildings in its path. A disease is a threat to your health. A security threat is someone or something that might make a situation unsafe. A person who may be able to beat someone in a competition might be called a threat, such as in sports or politics.Threat can also mean a warning or sign that harm or trouble is coming, as in The news was seen as a threat of problems in the very near future. The verb threaten means to make a threat, as in Don’t you dare threaten me! It can also mean to be a source of potential harm or damage, as in This recession threatens our livelihoods, or to indicate potential harm or trouble, as in It is threatening to storm out there. The adjective threatening is used to describe someone or something that causes alarm, intimidates, or is intended to intimidate, as in You look very threatening in that costume. Example: The rowdy students immediately started to behave in response to the teacher’s threat of calling their parents.