threaten

American  

[thret-n] / ˈθrɛt n /

verb (used with object)

• threatens,
  present (3rd person singular)
• threatened,
  past participle,  past
• threatening
  present participle

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.

---

verb (used without object)

• threatens,
  present (3rd person singular)
• threatened,
  past participle,  past
• threatening
  present participle

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)

---

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• threatening
  present
• threatened
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• threaten
  simple
• threatens
  simple
• have threatened
  perfect
• has threatened
  perfect
• am threatening
  progressive
• are threatening
  progressive
• is threatening
  progressive
• have been threatening
  perfect progressive
• has been threatening
  perfect progressive

Past

• threatened
  simple
• had threatened
  perfect
• was threatening
  progressive
• were threatening
  progressive
• had been threatening
  perfect progressive

Future

• will threaten
  simple
• will have threatened
  perfect
• will be threatening
  progressive
• will have been threatening
  perfect progressive

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

See Examples For:

threaten threatens threatened threatening

The company is a lot of things, combining an industry-standard rocket-launch business with a growing satellite-communications offering that could threaten the telecommunications industry.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

They fear that any accidents could threaten not just the nearby reefs but that currents could carry spilled oil to coastal wetlands teeming with wildlife.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Hawaii's emergency management agency recommended residents clear gutters and drains and move valuables off the ground, seal gaps in doors and remove tree limbs that threaten their properties.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

Combined with Russian barrages, these strikes now threaten to halt the sea’s maritime commerce.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

When he saw me he gave a loud, clear wailing wraaaah—a spine-chilling call that is used to threaten a dangerous animal.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall

"Today, it threatens every aspect of our political and legal system," he added.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Markets are rapidly pricing in tightening by the Bank of Japan at its next meeting in September, as a weak yen threatens to push up inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Big Sur has faced a relentless cycle of natural disasters over the past decade including destructive wildfires, mudflows, rockslides and coastal erosion that threatens its steep and fragile landscape and has isolated the iconic destination.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

That threatens to create a cataclysmic chain reaction, in which every collision creates more space debris and also risks damaging satellites and space stations we’d like to keep operational.

From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026

"As f-far as that g-goes, we could use another b-boy. Nick's golden voice threatens to turn b-bass any day now, and his b-beard to betray him."

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

"Richmond Park's red and fallow deer are wild, powerful animals. Although they may appear calm, they can react suddenly and aggressively if they feel threatened," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

While many praised Panettiere’s openness, Neutrogena threatened to end its 10-year relationship with her under a “morals clause.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

Many stayed outside overnight as dozens of aftershocks threatened to bring down compromised buildings.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

The lakes region Mr. Hoffman describes as “magnetic and mercurial” is home to bears, wolves, badgers, otters and a surprising variety of other creatures, yet their ways of life are being threatened.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

The storm of questions threatened to blow her off course before she had even begun.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

There is plenty to protest in the plan: Trump is threatening to install gold accents throughout the buildings, and renderings show a new covered walkway that could interrupt the clean lines of Saarinen’s facade.

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

A niche term of art in machine-learning research, it is proving a handy metaphor for talking about growth and threatening to cross over into wider business-speak.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

But a 10-mile stretch of Highway 1 is again closed because of a fast-moving fire threatening local landmarks, leaving Big Sur residents both on edge and frustrated.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Software stocks have been battered by concerns of artificial intelligence threatening traditional software-as-a-service business models, with new products from the likes of Anthropic boasting capabilities in cybersecurity, human resources and more.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

The thunder kept threatening like a big old empty cloud clearing its throat.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye

Related Words

• intimidate
• menace
• scare