threatening

[thret-n-ing] / ˈθrɛt n ɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

menacing, ominous

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aggressive alarming cautionary dangerous dire sinister ugly

STRONG

bullying close impending looming lowering near overhanging portending scowling terrorizing warning

WEAK

apocalyptic at hand baleful baneful comminatory fateful forthcoming grim ill-boding imminent impendent inauspicious intimidatory loury lowery minacious minatory portentous unlucky unpropitious unsafe upcoming

Antonyms

STRONGEST

good kind nice safe

STRONG

away distant far remote

WEAK

pleasant

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.

It warned that increasingly extreme heatwaves, droughts and floods were threatening the British "way of life", from sports matches to music festivals.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Those assaults remind us not only of the power of satire, but also of how its targets can find the slice of comedians’ jokes threatening.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

No one wants war, which would be a catastrophe, but the U.S. isn’t threatening to use force against China.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Days earlier, another clip began to circulate, showing Porter threatening to end an interview with CBS California reporter Julie Watts after becoming frustrated by Watts’ questioning.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Drizzle fell upon the fat friar’s face, threatening to wake him.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Vocabulary lists containing threatening

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