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.

In mitigation, the court heard Hamilton's messages were "pestering" but not "sexual, threatening or obscene".

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Like Julian, he’s been threatening to retire for years.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

“He’s trying to sound threatening and crazy,” Tim Pool, a social media personality with more than two million followers, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Yet if the U.S. military fails to secure the Strait of Hormuz, or Iran remains capable of shooting missiles and threatening damage to tankers, then oil prices would likely push higher.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

That uncomfortable electricity and weight in my shoulders is squeezing and pushing in and threatening to drop me to my knees.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Vocabulary lists containing threatening

myPerspectives 7.2

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Uh-Oh: Synonyms for "Dangerous"

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