threatens

present tense third-person singular of threaten
as in endangers
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on the powerful hurricane continues to threaten the southern coastline

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of threatens At least 19 people have been killed, school classes have been canceled, and the disruption threatens the kingdom's ambitious plans to transform itself into a global hub for business, tourism and sports. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 At the same time, the debt burden is being increasingly exposed to market volatility that threatens to make interest costs even steeper. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 The setup is designed to help warfighters continue flying drones and communicating in environments where electronic warfare threatens those functions. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 When a hurricane or tropical storm threatens the coast, residents jump into action installing storm shutters to keep their homes and businesses safe from high winds. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 Written and directed by Jeremy Slater, the film follows Jefferson Haddock (Bacon), who is called into an isolated witness protection property to deal with a terrifying demon, unleashing a force that threatens to end him and everything around him. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 But Kent said the effort also depends on homeowners taking action before a fire threatens their communities. — Steve Large, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 But just when the atmosphere starts to settle into a specific style, the movie repeatedly threatens to accordion away from itself. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026 Eventually, the great hip-hop swindle gets out of hand, and threatens to break up Billy’s relationship with longtime sweetheart Mary (Lucy Halliday). — Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threatens
endangers
Verb
  • This spews pollution into the air and endangers workers and surrounding neighborhoods.
    — Micheline Maynard, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Our leaders should retire a relic that endangers people and animals alike, and retire, once and for all, the small and nasty politics used to defend it.
    — Al Sharpton, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Threatens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threatens. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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