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threatening

[ thret-n-ing ]

/ ˈθrɛt n ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR threatening ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

tending or intended to menace: threatening gestures.

causing alarm, as by being imminent; ominous; sinister: threatening clouds.

Origin of threatening

First recorded in 1520–30; threaten + -ing²

SYNONYMS FOR threatening

2 See imminent, ominous.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR threatening ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM threatening

threat·en·ing·ly, adverb non·threat·en·ing, adjective non·threat·en·ing·ly, adverb un·threat·en·ing, adjective

un·threat·en·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby threatening

thready pulse, threap, threat, threaten, threatened species, threatening, three, three age system, three cheers for, three fires, three hours

Example sentences from the Web for threateningly

Barbara seized the sofa cushion and aimed it at him threateningly.

The Youngest Girl in the School |Evelyn Sharp
Carbines were levelled at him threateningly; but the French officers imperiously gave orders for all weapons to be laid aside.

A Republic Without a President and Other Stories |Herbert Ward
Now and then the clouds were lighted up by quivering lightning, and the thunder growled heavily and threateningly in the north.

Trans-Himalaya, Vol. 2 (of 2) |Sven Hedin
He stopped—looked up and saw me watching him—raised his hand—and shook it threateningly in the air.

Basil |Wilkie Collins

"I'll knock thee head off," and other shouts sounded loudly and threateningly.

Facing Death |G. A. Henty