Thesaurus results for THREATEN

threaten

verb

ˈthre-tᵊn

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

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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 The Yellow Jackets threatened early before the Gators seized control. —

Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026 Heavy rain started to fall in the sixth inning on Saturday, which threatened to send the game to a rain delay. —

Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026 The move would be similar to the tactic of threatening new tariffs to get other countries to pay more for drugs. —

Daniel Payne, STAT, 15 May 2026 That led to a revision in April that softens the rules’ impact — most obviously on refiners who have been threatening to leave California — but environmental groups are very critical. —

Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for threaten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten

Verb

And then the second thing to consider is that because the 2026 midterm election is poised to be so Democratic, the Republicans might not want to stretch too far, out of fear that doing so would endanger some of their own seats.

— Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 15 May 2026
Of the freshwater turtles, five species are listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern in the state, according to Brian Kleinman of Riverside Reptiles Education Center in Enfield.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026