threatening

THRET-uh-ning/ˈθɹɛtə.nɪŋ/

Noun pluralthreatenings

4 meanings of threatening

1
adjective
Likely to cause harm or danger to someone or something.
Like dark storm clouds that warn danger is on the way.
The dog gave a low, threatening growl as we walked past.
Hikers turned back when the weather grew threatening.
Similarmenacing, dangerous, ominous, sinister, hazardous
Oppositeharmless, safe, benign, reassuring
Note
2
adjective
Saying that you want to hurt or harm someone.
Like a bully who says he will hurt you if you don't listen.
He sent her threatening messages after the breakup.
The caller used threatening words and scared the staff.
Similarmenacing, intimidating, hostile, aggressive
Oppositefriendly, reassuring, conciliatory
3
verb
Present participle of threaten. Use this form for something happening right now.
The gang was threatening shopkeepers for protection money.
Storm clouds are threatening to spoil the outdoor concert.
Note
4
nouncountable or uncountable
The act of warning someone that you will hurt or harm them.
Threatening of any kind is not allowed in this school.
The police take the threatening of children very seriously.
Similarintimidation, menacing, coercion
Note

threatening is a form of threaten

threaten, verb: To say you will hurt or punish someone if they do not do what you want. Full entry

Forms: threatenthreatens he/she/itthreatening -ing formthreatened past tense, past participle
Spelling: threaten → threatening: add -ing

Use it in a sentence

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Origins

Meanings 1–3

From Middle English thretenyng, made from 'threaten' plus '-ing'.

Meaning 4

From Middle English thretnynge, made from 'threaten' plus '-ing'.