threaten

verb

THRET-n/ˈθɹɛt.n̩/

5 meanings of threaten

1
verbtransitive
To say you will hurt or punish someone if they do not do what you want.
Like a big dog growling to warn you to stay back.
Bullies often threaten smaller kids to take their lunch money.
He threatened to tell the teacher if she broke his toy.
Similarintimidate, menace, warn
2
verbtransitive
To be a danger to someone or something.
Like a crack in a dam that puts the houses below in danger.
Big waves can threaten small boats near the rocks.
The storm threatened the whole town overnight.
Similarendanger, imperil, jeopardize, menace
Oppositeprotect, safeguard, shield
3
verbtransitive
To be a sign that something bad will probably happen soon.
Like dark clouds that tell you rain is on the way.
Heavy clouds can threaten rain at any moment.
The dark sky threatened snow all afternoon.
Similarportend, presage, signal, herald, foreshadow
Oppositepromise
4
verbtransitive
To make people doubt whether a belief or idea is really true.
Like new facts that shake an old story people believed.
Some discoveries threaten ideas that people held for many years.
New evidence threatened the old theory about the planet's age.
Similarchallenge, undermine, question, undercut
Oppositesupport, confirm, reinforce, bolster
5
verbfigurativelytransitive
To come very close to matching or beating a record.
Strong players often threaten old records during a hot streak.
Her points this season threatened the school record for most goals.
Similarapproach, challenge, near, rival

Practice

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Origin

From an Old English word þrēatnian meaning "to urge or force," formed from "threat" plus "-en."