Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To express a threat against or give indications of taking hostile action against.
- intransitive verb To be a source of danger to; endanger.
- intransitive verb To give signs or warning of; portend.
- intransitive verb To announce the possibility of (something) in a threat or prediction.
- intransitive verb To cause (someone) to feel that his or her power, social standing, or self-esteem is in danger of being diminished.
- intransitive verb To express or use threats.
- intransitive verb To indicate or be a source of danger or harm.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To use threats or menaces; have a menacing aspect.
- To give indication of menace, or of impending danger or mischief; become overcast, as the sky.
- To declare an intention of doing mischief to or of bringing evil on: use threats toward; menace; terrify, or attempt to terrify, by menaces: with with before the evil threatened.
- To charge or enjoin solemnly or with menace.
- To be a menace or source of danger to.
- To give ominous indication of; presage; portend: as, the clouds threaten rain or a storm.
- To announce or hold out as a penalty or punishment: often followed by an infinitive clause.
- Synonyms Menace, Threaten (see
menace ), forebode, foreshadow.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To utter threats against; to menace; to inspire with apprehension; to alarm, or attempt to alarm, as with the promise of something evil or disagreeable; to warn.
- transitive verb To exhibit the appearance of (something evil or unpleasant) as approaching; to indicate as impending; to announce the conditional infliction of.
- intransitive verb To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb To make a
threat against someone; to use threats. - verb To
menace , or bedangerous . - verb To
portend , or give awarning .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb to be a menacing indication of something:
- verb pose a threat to; present a danger to
- verb to utter intentions of injury or punishment against:
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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So, by ruling that German officials had to use the strictest definition of the word threaten, the European parliament freed Germany to pass a law that seemed to have real teeth in protecting the domestic economy while still enabling German officials to approve most takeovers.
The Shadow Market Eric J.Weiner 2010
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Why does Sarah Palin threaten you so much that you have to make such comments?
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Now that their actions have come to light they may once again threaten the stability of the financial system.
Robert Creamer: Wall Street Hopes to Use Republicans to Re-Purchase Congress Robert Creamer 2010
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Apparently, it is those two industries that once again threaten our economy.
Ed Koch: Canada Appears More Protective of Its Children Than the US Ed Koch 2010
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Apparently, it is those two industries that once again threaten our economy.
Ed Koch: Canada Appears More Protective of Its Children Than Is The U.S. Ed Koch 2010
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Now that their actions have come to light they may once again threaten the stability of the financial system.
Robert Creamer: Wall Street Hopes to Use Republicans to Re-Purchase Congress Robert Creamer 2010
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Apparently, it is those two industries that once again threaten our economy.
Ed Koch: Canada Appears More Protective of Its Children Than Is The U.S. Ed Koch 2010
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In this thrilling sequel to Eighth Grade Bites, Vlad must confront the secrets of the past and battle forces that once again threaten his life.
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Have an even bigger villain threaten all of existence and the avengers having to ask for Hulk's help.
Is Hulk Destined to Become a Bad Guy in The Avengers? « FirstShowing.net 2008
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Assuming Lee did again threaten "to reveal dark secrets" about Vitter in 2002, do you think he would he have done so without having solid evidence?
Archive 2007-07-01 2007
brtom commented on the word threaten
I have been threatened-I can scarce get it out—I have been threatened with a lover.
Goldsmith, She Stoops, I
January 8, 2007