as in to endanger
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on
the powerful hurricane continues to threaten the southern coastline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of threaten
If achieved, this would provide its fleet with the capability to also directly threaten mainland China and other regional players like North Korea.
—
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
Research demonstrates that one of the ways abusers control and punish the targets of their abuse is by harming or threatening to harm those individuals’ companion animals.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Iran's attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure and its tight grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas transits in peacetime, have roiled stock markets, sent oil prices skyrocketing and threatened to raise the cost of many basic goods, including food.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Apr. 2026
Both sides have threatened, and hit, civilian targets and infrastructure in the war.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
Research demonstrates that one of the ways abusers control and punish the targets of their abuse is by harming or threatening to harm those individuals’ companion animals.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Iran's attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure and its tight grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas transits in peacetime, have roiled stock markets, sent oil prices skyrocketing and threatened to raise the cost of many basic goods, including food.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Apr. 2026
Both sides have threatened, and hit, civilian targets and infrastructure in the war.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Verb
-
Both Kendra and Joseph were charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and four counts of false imprisonment, the Tontitown Police Department announced March 20.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Other projects have or would have endangered the bleached sandhill skipper butterfly, the sage-grouse, and steamboat buckwheat.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What mattered more than his terseness was that Norris was allowed to land a few meaningful blows against the usually untouchable Lee, who stars as Tang Lung, a fighter summoned to defend a restaurant owner menaced by a crime boss.—
Chris Klimek,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Bruce, as the stunt shark built to menace them is nicknamed, is acting up and delaying the acting itself.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
