Threat vs. Threaten — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Threat and Threaten
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Compare with Definitions
Threat
A threat is a communicated intent to inflict harm or loss on another person. Intimidation is widely observed in animal behavior (particularly in a ritualized form) chiefly in order to avoid the unnecessary physical violence that can lead to physical damage or the death of both conflicting parties.
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
Threat
An expression of an intention to inflict pain, harm, or punishment.
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
Threat
An indication of impending danger or harm
A threat of frost in the air.
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Threaten
To express a threat against or give indications of taking hostile action against
Threatened his neighbor with a knife.
Threat
One that is regarded as a possible source of harm or danger
Viewed the stranger as a threat to the community.
Threaten
To be a source of danger to; endanger
Landslides threatened the mountain village.
Threat
The condition of being in danger or at risk
Under threat of attack.
Threaten
To give signs or warning of; portend
Clouds threatening rain.
Threat
To threaten.
Threaten
To announce the possibility of (something) in a threat or prediction
Workers threatening a walkout.
A customer threatening to sue for fraud.
Threat
An expression of intent to injure or punish another.
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.
Threat
An indication of potential or imminent danger.
Threaten
To express or use threats.
Threat
A person or object that is regarded as a danger; a menace.
Threaten
To indicate or be a source of danger or harm
“When World War II threatened, Broadway turned to patriotic extravaganzas” (Deanne Stillman).
Threat
(transitive) To press; urge; compel.
Threaten
To make a threat against someone; to use threats.
He threatened me with a knife.
Threat
To threaten.
Threaten
To menace, or be dangerous.
The rocks threatened the ship's survival.
Threat
(intransitive) To use threats; act or speak menacingly; threaten.
Threaten
To portend, or give a warning of.
The black clouds threatened heavy rain.
Threat
The expression of an intention to inflict evil or injury on another; the declaration of an evil, loss, or pain to come; menace; threatening; denunciation.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats.
Threaten
To call into question the validity of (a belief, idea, or viewpoint); to challenge.
The new information threatened our original hypothesis.
Threat
To threaten.
Of all his threating reck not a mite.
Our dreaded admiral from far they threat.
Threaten
(figuratively) To be close to equaling or surpassing (a record, etc.)
Threat
Something that is a source of danger;
Earthquakes are a constant threat in Japan
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.
Threat
A warning that something unpleasant is imminent;
They were under threat of arrest
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.
Threat
Declaration of an intention or a determination to inflict harm on another;
His threat to kill me was quite explicit
Threaten
To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance.
Though the seas threaten, they are merciful.
Threat
A person who inspires fear or dread;
He was the terror of the neighborhood
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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