threaten[verb]Synonyms:- intimidate, browbeat, bully, lean on
(slang), menace, pressurize, terrorize
- endanger, imperil, jeopardize, put at risk, put in jeopardy, put on the line
- foreshadow, forebode, impend, portend, presage
Related Idioms: make (
or utter) threats against
Related Words: browbeat,
bulldoze,
cow,
intimidate,
augur,
forebode,
portend,
presage,
caution,
forewarn,
warn [TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲
threat‧en S3 W2 /ˈθretn/
verb [
Word Family: verb:
threaten;
noun:
threat;
adverb:
threateningly;
adjective:
threatening]
1. [transitive] to say that you will cause someone harm or trouble if they do not do what you want:
Postal workers are threatening a strike if they don’t receive a pay increase.threaten to do something He threatened to take them to court.threaten somebody with something Doctors are sometimes threatened with violence if they don’t do what patients want.threaten (that) Then he became angry and threatened that he would go to the police.2. [transitive] to be likely to harm or destroy something:
Poaching threatens the survival of the rhino.threaten to do something The incident threatens to ruin his chances in the election.be threatened with something Large areas of the jungle are now threatened with destruction.3. [intransitive and transitive] to be likely to happen or be in a bad situation:
Britain’s fishing industry remains threatened. Dark clouds threatened rain. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲