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threaten

9 senses · Free VividLex dictionary · Thesaurus

  1. 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. Source: opted
  2. 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. Source: opted
  3. 3. v. i. To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance. Source: opted
  4. 4. v. pose a threat to; present a danger to Source: wordnet
  5. 5. v. to utter intentions of injury or punishment against Source: wordnet
  6. 6. v. to be a menacing indication of something Source: wordnet
  7. 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. Source: webster
  8. 8. To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threateningappearance.Though the seas threaten, they are merciful. Shak. Source: adambom
  9. 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" Source: ecdict

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