1
as in impending
giving signs of immediate occurrence
economists warning of a threatening recession
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
a threatening silence followed the loud thump in the adjoining motel room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury
threatening rocks lined that narrow stretch of the river through which we would be rafting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in menacing
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on
the powerful hurricane continues to threaten the southern coastline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of threatening
John Hollinger, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
In this scenario, Kharkiv will be the beneficiary, not the sad victim, of its location just miles from a threatening and powerful adversary.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Jan. 2025
Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
The Palisades fire has garnered headlines, but the Hurst and Eaton fires have also been threatening very populated areas.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for threatening 
Adjective
Consider, say, a deal that attached Green to two seconds for an upgrade at backup center or backup point guard, or to get one more threatening shooter in the mix.
—John Hollinger, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
In this scenario, Kharkiv will be the beneficiary, not the sad victim, of its location just miles from a threatening and powerful adversary.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
Richard curses again, threatening Blum.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
The Palisades fire has garnered headlines, but the Hurst and Eaton fires have also been threatening very populated areas.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for threatening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threatening
Adjective
-
Here, being replaceable is a relief, as Pasqual struggles to balance his career as half of a successful directing duo with the demands of impending parenthood.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2025
-
According to Ackroyd, the core belief of Campaign for Wool can be traced back to King Charles’ statements in 1974 about the impending dangers of petrochemical fibers.—
Tianwei Zhang,
WWD,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
His bruises caught by the window’s light, his good side cast in ominous shadow, Martian’s focus shifts from the people on the other side of the glass to the man staring back at him in it.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The second season of The Night Agent shows Peter on the other end of the line for that ominous White House basement phone.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Inappropriate links in search results get a red highlight and icon, just like dangerous links.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The lack of rain came as seven separate Santa Ana wind events hit Southern California in January alone, Tardy said, a dangerous combination in creating fire weather conditions as the air and vegetation dry out, making brush especially flammable.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The Alaska story represents Perkins’ tireless brainstorming of ways to help and also, perhaps, her blind spot to a more sinister history of American settler colonialism.—
Sara Georgini,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Jan. 2025
-
After Season 1 introduced viewers to the offbeat, sinister world of Lumon Industries, the Innies that make up its workforce, and the Outies compartmentalizing their lives, Season 2 is now unfolding deeper, stranger intricacies that speak to how corporations deal with dissenters.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Very strong winds will create hazardous conditions with blowing and drifting snow.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Past Incidents in the last 12 hours: Heavy rain prompts traffic warning on eastbound K-10 in Olathe A traffic advisory has been issued for hazardous driving conditions attributed to heavy rain on K-10 from South Woodland Street to Ridgeview Road.—
Kansas City Star Bot,
Kansas City Star,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Wilson, 46, is charged with murder, manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child for the explosion of violence inside the victim’s apartment on Macombs Road near Inwood Ave.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
21 Dec. 2024
-
Cloe Workman, 20, is charged in Hamilton County Municipal Court with misdemeanor child endangering and domestic violence.—
Cameron Knight,
The Enquirer,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The weather service said isolated thunderstorms are possible during the day and again at night, but no severe weather is expected.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2025
-
But honoring knowing someone is genuine in their kindness, makes trusting them easier, and forgiving them possible.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Elsewhere, Oscorp defector Otto Octavius’ (Hugh Dancy) volatile Gamma-fusion designs are finding their way into the hands of some of the city’s most menacing criminals.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2025
-
And yet, in front of Bulldog legend Marshawn Lynch and a capacity crowd at the program’s gymnasium in North Oakland, both dominated the skies as menacing shot-blockers in a 52-44 victory over Oakland on Friday night.—
Joseph Dycus,
The Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near threatening
Cite this Entry
“Threatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threatening. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share