Frighten vs. Threaten — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Frighten and Threaten
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Compare with Definitions
Frighten
To fill with fear; alarm.
Threaten
State one's intention to take hostile action against (someone) in retribution for something done or not done
How dare you threaten me?
The men threatened staff with a handgun
‘I might sue for damages,’ he threatened
Frighten
To drive or force by arousing fear
The suspect was frightened into confessing.
Threaten
Cause (someone or something) to be vulnerable or at risk; endanger
One of four London hospitals threatened with closure
A broken finger threatened his career
Frighten
To become afraid
Told ghost stories to campers who frightened easily.
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Threaten
To express a threat against or give indications of taking hostile action against
Threatened his neighbor with a knife.
Frighten
(transitive) To cause to feel fear; to scare; to cause to feel alarm or fright.
Avery puts a sheet over her head, pretending to be a ghost to frighten Emily.
Threaten
To be a source of danger to; endanger
Landslides threatened the mountain village.
Frighten
To disturb with fear; to throw into a state of alarm or fright; to affright; to terrify.
More frightened than hurt.
Threaten
To give signs or warning of; portend
Clouds threatening rain.
Frighten
Cause fear in;
The stranger who hangs around the building frightens me
Threaten
To announce the possibility of (something) in a threat or prediction
Workers threatening a walkout.
A customer threatening to sue for fraud.
Frighten
Drive out by frightening
Threaten
To cause (someone) to feel that their power, social standing, or self-esteem is in danger of being diminished
Felt threatened by his colleague's promotion.
Threaten
To express or use threats.
Threaten
To indicate or be a source of danger or harm
“When World War II threatened, Broadway turned to patriotic extravaganzas” (Deanne Stillman).
Threaten
To make a threat against someone; to use threats.
He threatened me with a knife.
Threaten
To menace, or be dangerous.
The rocks threatened the ship's survival.
Threaten
To portend, or give a warning of.
The black clouds threatened heavy rain.
Threaten
To call into question the validity of (a belief, idea, or viewpoint); to challenge.
The new information threatened our original hypothesis.
Threaten
(figuratively) To be close to equaling or surpassing (a record, etc.)
Threaten
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.
Let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Threaten
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.
The skies look grimlyAnd threaten present blusters.
By turns put on the suppliant and the lord:Threatened this moment, and the next implored.
Of the sharp axRegardless, that o'er his devoted headHangs menacing.
Threaten
To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance.
Though the seas threaten, they are merciful.
Threaten
Pose a threat to; present a danger to;
The pollution is endangering the crops
Threaten
To utter intentions of injury or punishment against:
He threatened me when I tried to call the police
Threaten
To be a menacing indication of something:
The clouds threaten rain
Danger threatens
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