as in threatens
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on
after the first big layoff, the possibility of losing their jobs hovered over all of the factory's workers
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for hovers (over)
threatens
Verb
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Some schools in Minnesota have already announced closings or shifts to virtual learning on Thursday as another round of winter weather threatens parts of the state.—
Eric Henderson,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026 -
This law, presented in the name of anti-discrimination, threatens to do exactly that against private religious institutions that do not comply with state mandates or rules that would conflict with a private religious institution’s beliefs and views.—
Stephen Mitchell,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hovers (over).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hovers%20%28over%29. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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