1 threaten | Definition of threaten
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threaten

verb
threat·​en | \ ˈthre-tᵊn How to pronounce threaten (audio) \
threatened; threatening\ ˈthret-​niÅ‹ How to pronounce threatening (audio) , ˈthre-​tᵊn-​iÅ‹ \

Definition of threaten

transitive verb

1 : to utter threats against
2a : to give signs or warning of : portend the clouds threatened rain
b : to hang over dangerously : menace famine threatens the city
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

intransitive verb

1 : to utter threats
2 : to portend evil
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Other Words from threaten

threatener \ ˈthret-​nÉ™r How to pronounce threatener (audio) , ˈthre-​tᵊn-​É™r \ noun

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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 They were taken to Christiana Hospital where medical personnel said the injuries were believed to be non-life threatening. — baltimoresun.com, "Suspect in custody in Elkton double shooting incident," 2 Sep. 2019 Chrappah said the conditions in the house did not appear to be life threatening, so no one was evicted. — Washington Post, "Housing inspector under scrutiny after officials says another rooming house case mishandled," 31 Aug. 2019 Boston police are investigating a shooting in Mattapan Thursday evening that left a man with non-life threatening injures, a spokesman said. — Adam Sennott, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston police investigate shooting in Mattapan," 29 Aug. 2019 Capeles cut himself with the knife prior to his arrest, but the injury was not life threatening. — Kaylee Remington, cleveland.com, "Elyria man pleads guilty to holding girlfriend hostage at knifepoint, threatening to kill himself," 28 Aug. 2019 The pilot’s injuries are not life threatening, the fire department said. — Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post, "Plane runs off runway at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, pilot injured," 28 Aug. 2019 The man is being treated for injuries that have now been determined to be non-life threatening, said Howie Padilla, Metro Transit spokesman, on Monday. — Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, "12-year-old arrested in stabbing that wounded man at St. Paul bus stop," 26 Aug. 2019 The officer was treated at the hospital for non-life threatening injuries and released by Monday. — Anna Bauman, SFChronicle.com, "Burglary suspect in life-threatening condition after being struck by unmarked SFPD vehicle," 26 Aug. 2019 On arriving, the officers found evidence of gunfire, and an adult male victim, who had a non-life threatening graze wound. — oregonlive.com, "Man grazed and shooter flees after gunfire in NE Portland motel," 25 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'threaten.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of threaten

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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More Definitions for threaten

threaten

verb
How to pronounce threaten (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of threaten

: to say that you will harm someone or do something unpleasant or unwanted especially in order to make someone do what you want
: to be something that is likely to cause harm to (someone or something) : to be a threat to (someone or something)

See the full definition for threaten in the English Language Learners Dictionary

threaten

verb
threat·​en | \ ˈthre-tᵊn How to pronounce threaten (audio) \
threatened; threatening

Kids Definition of threaten

1 : to show an intention to do harm or something unwanted He threatened to quit.
2 : to give warning of by an indication The clouds threatened rain.

Other Words from threaten

threateningly adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on threaten

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with threaten

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for threaten

Spanish Central: Translation of threaten

Nglish: Translation of threaten for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of threaten for Arabic Speakers

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