threaten

To say you will hurt someone or cause trouble if they do not do what you want.

• Don’t threaten me.
• He threatened to break my phone.
• The robbers threatened the guard with a gun.

How to use it: threaten to do something (He threatened to call the police.); threaten someone with something (The man threatened her with a knife.)

Similar words: intimidate, menace

Common phrases: threaten someone, threaten to leave, threaten with something

To create a danger that could harm or destroy someone or something.

• Floods threaten the village.
• The disease threatened her life.
• Rising costs threaten the company’s future.

Similar words: endanger, jeopardize

Opposites: protect

Common phrases: threaten something, threaten someone, threaten wildlife

To show signs that something bad is likely to happen.

• Dark clouds threaten rain.
• The heavy branch threatened to fall.
• The worsening weather threatened further delays.

How to use it: threaten to do something (The old roof threatened to collapse.)

Similar words: portend, foreshadow

Common phrases: threaten rain, threaten to fall, threaten disaster