threat

1 of 2

noun

ˈthret 

1

: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage

2

: one that threatens

3

: an indication of something impending

the sky held a threat of rain

threat

2 of 2

verb

threated; threating; threats

archaic

: threaten

Synonyms

Noun

• danger
• hazard
• imminence
• menace
• peril
• pitfall
• risk
• trouble

Examples of threat in a Sentence

Noun

He was willing to use violence and threats to get what he wanted.

She ignored their threats and continued to do what she felt was right.

a country under threat of civil war

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The company identified various risks, including competition, cybersecurity threats, and compliance with international regulations, which could impact its business operations and financial results. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024

Chula Vista police said threats are never taken lightly by the department, and investigating them is a top priority. —Karen Kucher, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

In cases such as the attack in Zhuhai, Chinese officials view any expression of grief, especially mass grief, as a further threat to social stability, Ong said. —Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024

What Wyler is frowning about, past this threat to her own ambition — that’s less coherent. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English thret coercion, threat, from Old English thrēat coercion; akin to Middle High German drōz annoyance, Latin trudere to push, thrust

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing threat

• bomb threat
• counter-threat
• empty threat
• idle threat
• triple threat
• under threat

Kids Definition

threat

noun

ˈthret

1

: an expression of an intent to do harm

stop making threats

2

: something that threatens

the volcano was a threat to the village

3

: an indication of something impending

the sky held a threat of rain

Legal Definition

threat

noun

: an expression of an intention to injure another : menace sense 1

criminal laws against making terroristic threats