to utter intentions of injury or punishment against: "He threatened me when I tried to call the police" to be a menacing indication of something: "The clouds threaten rain"; "Danger threatens
To utter threats against; to menace; to inspire with apprehension; to alarm, or attempt to alarm, as with the promise of something evil or disagreeable; to warn
If a person threatens to do something unpleasant to you, or if they threaten you, they say or imply that they will do something unpleasant to you, especially if you do not do what they want. He said army officers had threatened to destroy the town He tied her up and threatened her with a six-inch knife If you threaten me or use any force, I shall inform the police
to be a menacing indication of something: "The clouds threaten rain"; "Danger threatens"
to utter intentions of injury or punishment against: "He threatened me when I tried to call the police"
If something or someone threatens a person or thing, they are likely to harm that person or thing. The newcomers directly threaten the livelihood of the established workers 30 percent of reptiles, birds, and fish are currently threatened with extinction
If something unpleasant threatens to happen, it seems likely to happen. The fighting is threatening to turn into full-scale war see also threatened, threatening
to be a menacing indication of something: "The clouds threaten rain"; "Danger threatens
To exhibit the appearance of (something evil or unpleasant) as approaching; to indicate as impending; to announce the conditional infliction of; as, to threaten war; to threaten death