threaten
[ thret-n ]
/ ˈθrɛt n /
verb (used with object)
to utter a threat against; menace: He threatened the boy with a beating.
to be a menace or source of danger to: Sickness threatened her peace of mind.
to offer (a punishment, injury, etc.) by way of a threat: They threatened swift retaliation.
to give an ominous indication of: The clouds threaten rain.
verb (used without object)
to utter or use threats.
to indicate impending evil or mischief.
Origin of threaten
OTHER WORDS FROM threaten
threat·en·er, noun out·threat·en, verb (used with object) pre·threat·en, verb (used with object) re·threat·en, verbWords nearby threaten
threadworm,
thready,
thready pulse,
threap,
threat,
threaten,
threatened species,
threatening,
three,
three age system,
three cheers for
Example sentences from the Web for threaten
British Dictionary definitions for threaten
threaten
/ (ˈθrɛtən) /
verb
(tr)
to be a threat to
to be a menacing indication of (something); portend
dark clouds threatened rain
(when tr, may take a clause as object)
to express a threat to (a person or people)