threaten

Threaten is defined as to pose a danger to someone or something, or to make someone believe you pose a danger by making statements indicating an intent to harm them.

(verb)

  1. Human encroachment on animal's land is an example of something that threatens the animal population.
  2. When you tell someone you are going to kill him, this is an example of a time when you threaten him.

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See threaten in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

    1. to make threats against; express one's intention of hurting, punishing, etc.
    2. to express intention to inflict (punishment, reprisal, etc.)
    1. to indicate the likely occurrence of (something dangerous, unpleasant, etc.): clouds threatening snow
    2. to be a source of such danger, harm, etc. to: an epidemic that threatens the city

Origin: ME thretnen < OE threatnian

intransitive verb

  1. to make threats
  2. to be an indication or source of potential danger, harm, etc.

Related Forms:

See threaten in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb threat·ened, threat·en·ing, threat·ens
verb, transitive
  1. To express a threat against.
  2. To be a source of danger to; menace.
  3. To give signs or warning of; portend.
  4. To announce the possibility of in a threat.
verb, intransitive
  1. To express or use threats.
  2. To indicate danger or harm.

Related Forms:

  • threatˈen·er noun
  • threatˈen·ing·ly adverb

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