threaten
/'θretn/
Definition
Verb (Transitive):
- To state an intention to cause harm, injury, or punishment to someone or something.
- To be a warning sign of something undesirable or dangerous that is likely to happen.
Verb (Intransitive):
- To be a source of potential danger or harm; to appear likely to occur.
Usage
- Transitive Verb (to threaten someone/something): Used when a person or entity explicitly expresses an intention to harm or punish.
- Intransitive Verb (something threatens): Used when a situation or condition indicates a high probability of a bad outcome.
Examples
- Transitive Usage:
- The manager threatened to fire the employee for repeated lateness.
- He threatened his rival with legal action.
- Intransitive Usage:
- Dark clouds threaten rain.
- Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities.
Advanced Usage
- "to threaten with": To use a specific thing (e.g., a weapon, a consequence) as part of the threat.
- The robber threatened the cashier with a knife.
- "to be threatened by": To be in a state of potential danger from something.
- Many species are threatened by habitat loss.
- "a threatening manner/gesture": An adjective form describing something that suggests harm is possible.
- He made a threatening gesture with his fist.
Variants and Related Words
- Threat (n): A statement or indication of an intention to inflict harm, or a source of potential danger.
- She received a threat via email.
- Drought is a major threat to the region's agriculture.
- Threatening (adj): Having a hostile or intimidating quality.
- The letter had a threatening tone.
- Threatened (adj): (Especially of a species) at risk of extinction.
- The giant panda is a threatened species.
Synonyms
- Menace: To pose a threat; to be a source of danger.
- Intimidate: To frighten or coerce someone, often to make them do something.
- Endanger: To put someone or something at risk of harm or damage.
- Imperil: To place in peril or danger.
Phrasal Verbs
(The verb "threaten" does not commonly form standard phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically conveyed directly or with prepositions like "with" or "to.")
Related Idioms
- A threat on the horizon: A problem or danger that is likely to appear in the future.
- Economists see inflation as a threat on the horizon.
- An empty/idle threat: A threat that the speaker does not intend or is not able to carry out.
- His promise to sue was just an empty threat.
Verb
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to be a menacing indication of something:"The clouds threaten rain"
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Danger threatens
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to utter intentions of injury or punishment against:"He threatened me when I tried to call the police"
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pose a threat to; present a danger to
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The pollution is endangering the crops
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