What does THREATEN mean?

Definitions for THREATEN
ˈθrɛt nthreat·en

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word THREATEN.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. endanger, jeopardize, jeopardise, menace, threaten, imperil, perilverb

    pose a threat to; present a danger to

    "The pollution is endangering the crops"

  2. threatenverb

    to utter intentions of injury or punishment against:"He threatened me when I tried to call the police"

  3. threatenverb

    to be a menacing indication of something:"The clouds threaten rain"

    "Danger threatens"

Wiktionary

  1. threatenverb

    To make a threat against someone; to use threats.

    He threatened me with a knife.

  2. threatenverb

    To menace, or be dangerous.

    The rocks threatened the ship's survival.

  3. threatenverb

    To portend, or give a warning.

    The black clouds threatened heavy rain.

  4. Etymology: From þreaten or þreten, from þrēatian.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. To Threat, To Threatenverb

    threat is seldom used but in poetry.

    Etymology: þreatian , Saxon:

    Death to be wish’d
    Though threaten’d, which no worse than this can bring. John Milton.

    What threat you me with telling of the king?
    Tell him and spare not. William Shakespeare, Richard III.

    That it spread no further, straitly threaten them that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. Acts iv. 18.

    The void profound
    Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being
    Threatens him. John Milton.

    Æneas their assault undaunted did abide,
    And thus to Lausus, loud with friendly threat’ning cry’d. John Dryden, Virgil.

    This day black omens threat the brightest fair,
    That e’er deserv’d a watchful spirit’s care. Alexander Pope.

    Void of fear,
    He threaten’d with his long protended spear. Dryden.

    The noise increases as the billows roar,
    When rowling from afar they threat the shore. Dryden.

Wikipedia

  1. threaten

    A threat is a communication of intent to inflict harm or loss on another person. Intimidation is a tactic used between conflicting parties to make the other timid or psychologically insecure for coercion or control. The act of intimidation for coercion is considered as a threat. Threatening or threatening behavior (or criminal threatening behavior) is the crime of intentionally or knowingly putting another person in fear of bodily injury. "Threat of harm generally involves a perception of injury...physical or mental damage...act or instance of injury, or a material and detriment or loss to a person."Some of the more common types of threats forbidden by law are those made with an intent to obtain a monetary advantage or to compel a person to act against their will. In most US states, it is an offense to threaten to (1) use a deadly weapon on another person; (2) injure another's person or property; or (3) injure another's reputation.

ChatGPT

  1. threaten

    To threaten means to express an intention to inflict harm, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone, often as a way of coercing or intimidating them. It can also refer to indicating or suggesting the possibility or likelihood of something undesirable or harmful happening in the future.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Threatenverb

    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. Threatenverb

    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. Threatenverb

    to use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance

Editors Contribution

  1. threaten

    Warn someone strongly with the intention of harming them as a means to get something done.

    Don't threaten him so much, he might faint. My boss threatened me that if I dint do as he said, he will spoil my career.


    Submitted by anonymous on March 3, 2019  

British National Corpus

  1. Verbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'THREATEN' in Verbs Frequency: #306

How to pronounce THREATEN?

How to say THREATEN in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of THREATEN in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of THREATEN in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of THREATEN in a Sentence

  1. Defense Secretary Ash Carter:

    The operation represents another significant blow to ISIL, and it is a reminder that the United States will never waver in denying safe haven to terrorists who threaten our citizens, and those of our friends and allies.

  2. Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando:

    We understand and commiserate with our community and visitors about the prolonged closure, but we can not provide safe access to the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii section of the park as long as these very unpredictable dangers threaten the safety of park staff and visitors, unlike lava, which you can see coming and avoid, we can not see or predict earthquakes, nor can we foresee a summit explosion, but both threats continue. HAWAII'S KIM VOWS TO REBUILD FROM VOLCANO WITH HELP OF FEMA, AS SCIENTISTS SAY THE WORST IS YET TO COME Damage to Jaggar Museum overlook following 5.5 magnitude earthquake on June 3, 2018. ( NPS Photo) The summit area in particular has been also struck by several earthquakes that have damaged at least three park buildings, fractured park roads, and snapped water lines, according to the National Park Service. A magnitude 5.5 earthquake rattled the summit area at 3:50 p.m. on June 3, cracking the overlook deck at Jaggar Museum. Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii RANKED AMONG TOP 10 MOST DANGEROUS IN US A large plume of ash after an earthquake near the summit of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii volcano on May 25, 2018. ( NPS Photo) Over the weekend, the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported more than 500 earthquakes in a 24-hour period – the most ever measured by HVO scientists.

  3. Former Vice President Dick Cheney:

    You didn't take it into the room, because it could conceivably be reversed engineered, or in some fashion, threaten security. the process we're going through now ultimately will produce a nominee.

  4. Martin Sheen:

    I have to put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks and of subtruths and very harmful and mercurial stories that are about me, that threaten the health of so many others that couldn't be further from the truth, i am here to admit that I am in fact HIV positive.

  5. Sergey Lavrov:

    We demand that the United States should respect the sovereignty of a state and avoid such actions that threaten the current world order.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

THREATEN#10000#13701#100000

Translations for THREATEN

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