threaten

American  

[thret-n] / ˈθrɛt n /

verb (used with object)

1. to utter a threat against; menace.

   He threatened the boy with a beating.

2. to be a menace or source of danger to.

   Sickness threatened her peace of mind.

   Synonyms:

   endanger

   Antonyms:

   defend, protect

3. to offer (a punishment, injury, etc.) by way of a threat.

   They threatened swift retaliation.

4. to give an ominous indication of.

   The clouds threaten rain.

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verb (used without object)

1. to utter or use threats.

2. to indicate impending evil or mischief.

threaten British  

/ ˈθrɛtən /

verb

1. (tr) to be a threat to

2. to be a menacing indication of (something); portend

   dark clouds threatened rain

3. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to express a threat to (a person or people)

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Usage

What does threaten mean? To threaten someone is to indicate that you will cause harm to or create some other kind of negative consequences for them, especially to pressure them to do something or not to do something. This kind of statement is called a threat. Threatening someone often involves a promise to physically harm them in retaliation for what they have done or might do. A bank robber might threaten a bank teller by telling them he’ll shoot them if they don’t hand over the money. Some threats are simply meant to intimidate, and don’t involve pressuring someone to do something. A bully might threaten to punch you for no good reason. Not all threats involve violence. You can threaten someone with a lawsuit. The word threat can also refer to someone or something that may potentially cause harm or damage, and threaten can mean to be a source of potential harm or damage. A disease threatens your health. A security threat is someone or something that threatens to make a situation unsafe. Threat can also mean a warning or sign that harm or trouble is coming, and threaten can mean 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. The adjective threatened means in danger, as in I felt threatened or We need to protect threatened species. Example: The rowdy students immediately started to behave after the teacher threatened to call their parents.

Other Word Forms

• outthreaten
  verb (used with object)
• prethreaten
  verb (used with object)
• rethreaten
  verb
• threatener
  noun
• threatening
  adjective
• threateningly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of threaten

First recorded before 1000; Middle English thretnen, Old English thrēatnian, derivative of thrēat “pressure, oppression”; equivalent to threat + -en ¹

Explanation

Something that threatens makes its danger known. Storm clouds threaten rain, and bullies threaten other kids. Unfortunately, there are lots of people and things that threaten — it's a dangerous world. If someone threatens you with violence, you should call the police. The police may then threaten the criminal with arresting them. Nations threaten each other before going to war. You can also say a dangerous situation is threatening, like gloomy weather. Sometimes this word is used more lightheartedly, like if an old friend threatens to hug you to death.

Example Sentences

Appeared in the November 3, 2025, print edition as 'Lawmakers And MMA Threaten Boxing'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

How AI and the Lure of Efficiency Threaten Human Writing, she dives into the crux of the matter: If we hand over the written word to AI, what will we lose?

From Scientific American • Sep. 29, 2023

"What were we going to do? Threaten to live on the moon?"

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2021

Threaten a big class action “Theft of Intellectual Property” suit against the companies while they still exist.

From New York Times • Apr. 11, 2018

Threaten them with Monsieur Abbe when they do not please you, and you will see them quake like mice when the cat is mentioned.

From Scenes from a Courtesan's Life by Balzac, Honoré de

Related Words

• intimidate
• menace
• scare