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

These concerns are the latest in a long line of fears about AI's potential to threaten humanity should it grow to match or surpass human abilities.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

High valuations leave the stock market with little room for error as rising yields, a potential IPO wave, and slowing earnings growth threaten the rally.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

Recent claims that AI could become too powerful and threaten humanity have also triggered calls for slower development and tighter regulation.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

He said he did not attempt to extort from union officials, or assault or threaten female labor leaders.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026

The valley, which has been home and shelter for my whole life, seems now to threaten me wherever I go, whatever I do.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

He says math is quickly approaching a “worst-case scenario” that threatens the long-term health of his field and society at large.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

It's a game packed with tight combat and excellent performances, but it never threatens to meet the genre-defining heights of Insomniac's previous offering.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

The letter says the plan threatens the “entire fabric of California’s agricultural economy.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Blamed partly on one of the worst episodes of the drought-inducing El Nino weather phenomenon in decades, the disaster threatens millions of people's access to necessities such as clean water and air -- even education.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

We stare at each other and I smile, even while my stomach threatens to toss my one bite of Januka’s sandwich onto the floor.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

Amodei warned in his essay that AI was rapidly improving itself, through a process known as recursive self-improvement, which threatened to outpace humans’ ability to control it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

But it has been threatened by megafirms like Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins, and hasn’t heavily invested in private equity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Joly has threatened to launch a lawsuit against Stellantis, for failing to follow through with the Jeep Compass production, and vowed to recover the millions of dollars that governments provided to the car maker.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

But experts say its habitat has deteriorated and some of Wales' most threatened species, including the ring ouzel bird, are in danger of disappearing altogether.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

If Britain felt challenged by Germany’s aggressive push to become a world power, Germany felt threatened by France and Russia, its neighbors to the west and east.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Musk’s attorney Alex Spiro is threatening a lawsuit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Why wasn’t the MAC threatening to send in the suits?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

The surge in crude prices has lifted gasoline and diesel prices, adding to inflationary pressure from higher energy costs and threatening to reduce the purchasing power of consumers.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026

I had already given myself the thing they were threatening to withhold.

From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2026

I shiver, disturbed that such a motionless man can seem so threatening.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Related Words

• intimidate
• menace
• scare