threaten

Verb

threaten (third-person singular simple present threatens, present participle threatening, simple past and past participle threatened)

1. To make a threat against someone; to use threats.
   • No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Hocussing of Cigarette”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London...
   • "Taiwanese are very enthusiastic and love freedom and democracy, so many good international friends have come to Taiwan to support us. This is a normal and good thing, but China threatens and intimidates Taiwan," she said.
     "However, I would like to reassure everyone that both our government and the...2022 August 13, Sarah Wu, David Kirton, Ben Blanchard, quoting Tsai Ing-wen, “Taiwan thanks U.S. for maintaining security in Taiwan Strait”, in Tom Hogue, Michael Perry, William Mallard, editors...
2. To menace, or be dangerous.
   • The rocks threatened the ship's survival.
3. To portend, or give a warning of.
   • The black clouds threatened heavy rain.

   Antonyms:

   promise

4. To call into question the validity of (a belief, idea, or viewpoint); to challenge.
   • The new information threatened our original hypothesis.
5. (figuratively) To be close to equaling or surpassing (a record, etc.); to challenge.
   • The player quickly surmised that things weren't kosher and the suddenly wiser ballplayer threatened the world record for the fifty-yard dash as he sought safety. As Reynolds dived into the van, Dietz and the other players rolled with laughter.2000, Lew Freedman, Diamonds in the Rough: Baseball Stories from Alaska, page 69