threatened; threatening
ˈthret-niŋ 
ˈthre-tᵊn-iŋ
1
: to utter threats against
2
3
: to announce as intended or possible
the workers threatened a strike
4
: to cause to feel insecure or anxious
felt threatened by his brother's success
Examples of threaten in a Sentence
The mugger threatened him with a gun.
She threatened to quit if they didn't give her a raise, but no one believed her.
Civil war has been threatening the country for years.
a marriage threatened by financial problems
Overfishing threatens the survival of certain fish species.
The latest news threatens trouble for the economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
The controversy has sparked debate about whether the adoption of new technologies threatens to leave some users behind.
—
Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Maul and Devon's relationship is an entertaining tug-of-war; Lawson is a caf-loving lawman best described as well-meaning, but out of his element; and the inevitable arrival of Imperial forces (including two Inquisitors) quickly threatens disaster for both sides.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The Federal Reserve is required by Congress to seek low inflation and maximum employment, and higher gas prices could threaten both those mandates, creating a challenging situation for Fed officials.
—Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Although that growth continued into much of last year, Carvana shares have plunged 26% in 2026 as fallout from Iran war threatens to hit consumers' wallets, according to McGovern.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
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Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Maul and Devon's relationship is an entertaining tug-of-war; Lawson is a caf-loving lawman best described as well-meaning, but out of his element; and the inevitable arrival of Imperial forces (including two Inquisitors) quickly threatens disaster for both sides.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The Federal Reserve is required by Congress to seek low inflation and maximum employment, and higher gas prices could threaten both those mandates, creating a challenging situation for Fed officials.
—Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Although that growth continued into much of last year, Carvana shares have plunged 26% in 2026 as fallout from Iran war threatens to hit consumers' wallets, according to McGovern.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threaten. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
threaten
verb
threat·en
ˈthret-ᵊn
threatened; threatening
ˈthret-niŋ
-ᵊn-iŋ
1
: to utter threats : make threats against
threaten trespassers with arrest
2
: to give signs or warning of
clouds threatening rain
3
: to be an imminent danger to : menace
hunger threatens the town
4
: to announce as intended or possible
the workers threatened a strike
threatened to buy a car
5
: to cause to feel insecure or anxious
felt threatened by his friend's success
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