threatening

UK: /ˈθrɛt^ənɪŋ/ US: /ˈθrɛtənɪŋ/ ,(thret′n ing)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

threat•en•ing /ˈθrɛtənɪŋ/   adj. 

1. warning, or showing by one's behavior, that one will injure, punish, or harm another:
   made a threatening gesture.
2. causing alarm:
   dark, threatening storm clouds.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

threat•en•ing  (thret′n ing), adj. 

1. tending or intended to menace:
   threatening gestures.
2. causing alarm, as by being imminent;
   ominous;
   sinister:
   threatening clouds.

• threaten + -ing² 1520–30

threat′en•ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. . See imminent, ominous. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

threat•en /ˈθrɛtən/   v. 

1. to make a statement or promise that one will punish or harm (another):
   [~ + object (+ with + object)] The gangsters threatened him with the execution of his family if he didn't cooperate.
2. to promise to inflict (punishment, harm, etc.) on someone: [ ~ + [object]
   They threatened swift retaliation if their demands were not met.
   [~ + to + verb]
   They threatened to retaliate immediately.
   [~ + that clause]
   They threatened that they would all walk off the job.
3. to be a source of danger to;
   be likely to harm: [ ~ + [object]
   to threaten one's peace of mind.
   [no object]
   We wondered what to do if danger threatened.
4. to give a warning of (something bad or unfortunate):
   [~ + object] The clouds threaten rain.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

threat•en  (thret′n), v.t. 

1. to utter a threat against;
   menace:
   He threatened the boy with a beating.
2. to be a menace or source of danger to:
   Sickness threatened her peace of mind.
3. to offer (a punishment, injury, etc.) by way of a threat:
   They threatened swift retaliation.
4. to give an ominous indication of:
   The clouds threaten rain.

v.i. 

5. to utter or use threats.
6. to indicate impending evil or mischief.

• Middle English thretnen, Old English thrēatnian, derivative of thrēat pressure, oppression. See threat, -en¹ bef. 1000

threat′en•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. endanger.

Antonyms

• 2. protect, defend.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

threaten / ˈθrɛt^ən/ verb

1. (transitive) to be a threat to
2. to be a menacing indication of (something); portend
3. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to express a threat to (a person or people)

ˈthreatening adjective

ˈthreateningly adverb