1
: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
2
: one that threatens
3
: an indication of something impending
the sky held a threat of rain
Examples of threat in a Sentence
Noun
He was willing to use violence and threats to get what he wanted.
She ignored their threats and continued to do what she felt was right.
a country under threat of civil war
Recent Examples on the Web
A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
The idea that military campaigns should only be undertaken if there was a clear national security threat, a clear goal and a clear exit strategy became known as the Powell Doctrine and guided American policy in the latter part of the 20th Century.
—Carl Leubsdorf, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026
Severe weather threat On the southern side of the powerful system, a line of severe storms will develop from Michigan down to Texas Sunday afternoon into the night.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
The Times writer also ignores other aspects of the Iranian threat.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threat
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Noun
Citing federal threats to health care access and rising costs for working families, Granato argues she’s best equipped to navigate the county from the jump.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
The idea that military campaigns should only be undertaken if there was a clear national security threat, a clear goal and a clear exit strategy became known as the Powell Doctrine and guided American policy in the latter part of the 20th Century.
—Carl Leubsdorf, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026
Severe weather threat On the southern side of the powerful system, a line of severe storms will develop from Michigan down to Texas Sunday afternoon into the night.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
The Times writer also ignores other aspects of the Iranian threat.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threat
Cite this Entry
“Threat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threat. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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