- present participle of threaten.
threatening
Americanadjective
-
tending or intended to menace.
threatening gestures.
-
causing alarm, as by being imminent; ominous; sinister.
threatening clouds.
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of threatening
Explanation
Anything that's threatening is ominous, or scary on purpose. A bully's deep, threatening voice might frighten other children in the neighborhood. Threatening things are done in a way that expresses an intention to hurt someone. A threatening letter from your neighbor might warn of his plan to call the police if you play your music too loudly. Another neighbor angrily shaking a fist in the direction of your barking dog is threatening too. Unintentionally threatening things include looming storm clouds and terrifying waves crashing onto the beach after a hurricane.
Vocabulary lists containing threatening
myPerspectives 7.2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The announcement comes amid strained relations between Washington and both countries, with the proposed termination threatening their access to preferential trade arrangements with the US.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
Governments in the region are straining to honor the entitlements of future pensioners, threatening a fragile generational contract.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
Scientists have discovered that certain tumors considered less threatening can contain hidden populations of highly aggressive cancer cells, potentially explaining why some children experience devastating outcomes despite lacking the usual genetic warning signs.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026
Over the next two decades, Stewart appeared in a variety of television roles without threatening to become a major star.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
These threatening harangues managed to delay matters, but the Deep South lacked the votes.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
