threat Hear it!

threat Definition

threat (t̸hret)

noun

  1. an expression of intention to hurt, destroy, punish, etc., as in retaliation or intimidation
    1. an indication of imminent danger, harm, evil, etc. the threat of war
    2. a potential source of this

Etymology: ME threte < OE threat, a throng, painful pressure, akin to Ger (ver)driessen, to grieve, annoy < IE *treud-, to push, press (prob. < base *ter-, to rub) > L trudere, to thrust

transitive verb, intransitive verb

Obsolete threaten

threat Synonyms

threat

n.

menace, peril, fulmination, intimidation; see warning.

threat Law Definition

n

A declaring of one’s intention to cause harm or loss to another’s person or property or to limit one’s freedom to act in a lawful voluntary manner (a threat to kidnap). A threat may be made by innuendo or suggestion, as well as by explicit language, and may be the basis of criminal or civil liability. Mere words, however, have been held not to constitute an assault. See also coercion, extortion, and fighting words.
threat Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • terrorism: But the threat of terrorism is not the only abyss into which we peer.
  • closure: We heard of another unit apparently under threat of closure, in a county in Eastern England.
  • invasion: The painting was interpreted as symbolizing Britain's undefended coastline and her perilous, sheep-like disregard for the threat of invasion by Napoleon.

Preposition: from

  • terrorism: SUMMARY Denmark shares with the rest of Europe a threat from international terrorism.

Converse of object

  • pose: At the same time there is a threat posed to human freedom by the enormous power of the modern state.
  • perceive: The crew perceived a hostile aircraft threat to be closing on their ship.
  • counter: In order to maximize the opportunities and counter the threats, UK companies need to take action.
  • constitute: Failure to address this issue in fact constitutes the biggest threat to achieving a lasting urban renaissance.
  • emerge: On January 22, heads of delegations will discuss current and propose cooperative measures and emerging terrorist threats.

Adjective modifier

  • terrorist: I liked your proposal to the terrorist threat, Elaine.
  • serious: Right now, today, the truck bomb is a much more serious threat than the logic bomb.
  • imminent: Was there an imminent threat that justified the rush to war?
  • constant: Our foreign neighbors no longer pose a constant threat to our safety.
  • potential: Free Speed Nation picks up on a potential threat to us humble bloggers arising from France's recent problems.
  • immediate: Britain's Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks insists that there is " no immediate threat to gas supplies.

Noun used with modifier

  • missile: Correspondents say North Korea may be using the missile threat to try to break the deadlock.
  • terror: Authorities say the arrests were not linked to a specific terror threat.
  • death: SCULLY: Have there ever been any death threats?