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- pronunciation:
- thre
t
 n
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
threatens, threatening, threatened |
| definition 1: |
When someone threatens you, they say that they will hurt you or punish you if you don't do what they want.
After the man threatened her, the bank employee gave him the money.- antonyms:
- coax
- similar words:
- bully, challenge, provoke, warn
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| definition 2: |
When the sky threatens rain, it means that the sky gives signs of rain coming.
The dark, cloudy sky threatened a thunderstorm.- similar words:
- endanger, promise
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| definition 3: |
When you threaten to do something, you say that you are going to do a thing that will be bad for yourself or someone else. Often, you threaten to do something because you are trying to force another person to do something that you want. You are saying, "I will do this bad thing if you don't do the thing I want."
The neighbor threatened to call the police if the people next door didn't turn down the music.The factory workers threatened to quit if they didn't get a raise in pay.- similar words:
- promise
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| definition 4: |
When something threatens another thing, it is a danger to it. It is, or can be, a cause of harm or loss.
Viruses continue to threaten the human population.Plastic pollution in the ocean threatens both sea animals and birds.The wolves threatened the rancher's sheep.The teacher said that smoking threatens your health. |
| definition 5: |
When a thing threatens to do something, it gives signs that it can or will do something that will cause harm or damage.
The volcano has been threatening to explode for days now. |
| related words: |
frighten |
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| derivations: |
threateningly (adv.), threatener (n.) |
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