Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

threaten

[thret-n] / ˈθrɛt n /




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Rising living costs threaten discretionary spending by Dollar Tree and Dollar General’s core customers.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

Persistent heat or inadequate rainfall during coffee’s flowering period and its subsequent development might threaten production, said Jim Roemer, a commodity trading advisor who writes the Weather Wealth newsletter.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

Industry bodies argue that the sites could provide jobs and improve the UK's energy security as overseas conflicts threaten supply.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

Flooding, tornadoes, and destructive winds can threaten areas well inland, making it important for residents beyond coastal evacuation zones to understand their potential exposure.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

Dudley gently released himself from his mother’s clutches and walked toward Harry, who had to repress an urge to threaten him with magic.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

The overexploitation of parrotfish and other groupers threatens 63 percent of coral reef ecosystems.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026

A powerful El Niño threatens to disrupt coffee harvests around the world, adding to farmers’ already steep production costs.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

These are the things that we stay alive for, and well, that’s exactly what AI threatens to rob from the human race.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

Hauser warned that many businesses are passing on higher costs, which threatens to entrench higher inflation expectations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

A bubble of hysterical laughter threatens to well up, and I have to swallow it back down.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

Bishnoi has publicly threatened Khan over a 1998 poaching case involving blackbucks, a species of antelope revered by the Bishnoi community.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Torres threatened to expose the relationship to her employer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

The fund’s largest holding at the end of the third quarter was Salesforce, the software company that is down about 8.5% this year owing to worries it will be threatened by AI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

Seoul previously summoned Kyiv's ambassador and threatened unspecified "further measures".

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026

When they are threatened, their response is… well… quite unlike other forest creatures’—and most especially unlike a fox’s.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

The Ebola outbreak in Congo has sickened over 9,500 people and killed more than 4,600 since May, threatening to eclipse the West Africa outbreak.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

"The current criminal threat environment is febrile and when it comes to federal parliamentarians, the AFP continues to record the growing volume of online abuse, threatening rhetoric and intimidation," she said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026

El-Sayed isn’t threatening; he doesn’t call Tommy a racist.

From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2026

The force said his injuries were not believed to be life threatening or life changing.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

My head is pounding and the tension in me is threatening to spill out.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell


Vocabulary lists containing threaten

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com