threaten

verb

THRET-n/ˈθɹɛt.n̩/

Formsthreatens, threatening, threatened

5 meanings of threaten

1
verbtransitive
To make a threat against a person, or to use threatening words or behavior.
Protesters who threaten violence will be removed from the building.
The letter threatened legal action unless the company paid the fine.
Similarintimidate, menace, warn
2
verbtransitive
To act as a danger or menace to someone or something.
Wildfires threaten thousands of homes across the region every summer.
Rising floodwaters threatened the entire village within hours.
Similarendanger, imperil, jeopardize, menace
Oppositeprotect, safeguard, shield
3
verbtransitive
To be a warning sign of something bad that is likely to come.
Gray skies threaten a storm later today.
The grinding noise threatened a complete breakdown of the engine.
Similarportend, presage, signal, herald, foreshadow
Oppositepromise
4
verbtransitive
To undermine confidence in a belief, idea, or point of view by raising serious doubts about whether it holds.
These findings threaten long-held assumptions across the entire field.
The discovery threatened a consensus that had stood for decades.
Similarchallenge, undermine, question, undercut
Oppositesupport, confirm, reinforce, bolster
5
verbfigurativelytransitive
To come close to equaling or surpassing a record or similar mark.
Forecasters say this week's heat wave could threaten the city's record high for October.
The young sprinter threatened the world record in the hundred-meter final.
Similarapproach, challenge, near, rival

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of threaten apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English thretenen, from Old English þrēatnian ("to urge, force, compel"), equivalent to "threat" plus the suffix "-en."