threaten
[ thret-n ]
/ ˈθrɛt n /
verb (used with object)
to utter a threat against; menace: He threatened the boy with a beating.
to be a menace or source of danger to: Sickness threatened her peace of mind.
to offer (a punishment, injury, etc.) by way of a threat: They threatened swift retaliation.
to give an ominous indication of: The clouds threaten rain.
verb (used without object)
to utter or use threats.
to indicate impending evil or mischief.
Nearby words
threadworm, thready, thready pulse, threap, threat, threaten, threatened species, threatening, three, three age system, three cheers for
Origin of threaten
Related forms
threat·en·er, nounout·threat·en, verb (used with object)pre·threat·en, verb (used with object)re·threat·en, verbDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for threatened
British Dictionary definitions for threatened
threaten
/ (ˈθrɛtən) /
verb
(tr) to be a threat to
to be a menacing indication of (something); portenddark clouds threatened rain
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to express a threat to (a person or people)
Derived Forms
threatener, nounthreatening, adjectivethreateningly, adverbCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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