Thesaurus: threaten

Related headwords

Definitions

1. v. t. To utter threats against; to menace; to inspire with apprehension; to alarm, or attempt to alarm, as with the promise of something evil or disagreeable; to warn.
2. v. t. To exhibit the appearance of (something evil or unpleasant) as approaching; to indicate as impending; to announce the conditional infliction of; as, to threaten war; to threaten death.
3. v. i. To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance.
4. v. pose a threat to; present a danger to
5. v. to utter intentions of injury or punishment against
6. v. to be a menacing indication of something
7. 1. To utter threats against; to menace; to inspire with apprehension; to alarm, or attempt to alarm, as with the promise of something evil or disagreeable; to warn. Let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. Acts iv. 17. 2. To exhibit the appearance of (something evil or unpleasant) as approaching; to indicate as impending; to announce the conditional infliction of; as, to threaten war; to threaten death. Milton. The skies look grimly And threaten present blusters. Shak. Syn. -- To menace. -- Threaten, Menace. Threaten is Anglo-Saxon, and menace is Latin. As often happens, the former is the more familiar term; the latter is more employed in formal style. We are threatened with a drought; the country is menaced with war. By turns put on the suppliant and the lord: Threatened this moment, and the next implored. Prior. Of the sharp ax Regardless, that o'er his devoted head Hangs menacing. Somerville. To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful. Shak.
8. To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threateningappearance.Though the seas threaten, they are merciful. Shak.
9. v:100 v. to utter intentions of injury or punishment against:"He threatened me when I tried to call the police" v. to be a menacing indication of something:"The clouds threaten rain"