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.

Still, she said ongoing book bans are threatening those strides toward a more diverse literary marketplace.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

Leticia Velasquez, a devout Catholic, registered Republican and three-time Trump voter, said Trump’s profanity-laced post threatening Iran on Easter Sunday bothered her.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

The twice-bankrupt telecom company said the Pentagon was using its licensed wireless spectrum rights without compensation, threatening its business model.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

So leaders have more trouble either credibly threatening bad members to resign or dissuading other members from taking justice into their own hands.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

So now he zoomed past Lake Merritt, thankful for the wide and smooth bike lanes, the wind threatening to tear his hat from his head.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Vocabulary lists containing threatening

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