threaten

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "threaten" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use "threaten" when you are expressing the idea of someone issuing a warning or ultimatum. Example sentence: The robber threatened to hurt the store clerk unless he handed over the money.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

River flooding could close highways, potentially top levees and threaten some homes and businesses.

The Guardian

He said he had to threaten to resign to prevent the promised introduction of the first patient waiting times for treatment being abandoned.

The Guardian

The only organised opposition are the neo-fascists of the Jobbik party on the far right, suggesting that the opposition on the streets this week might challenge Orbán but not really threaten him.

The Guardian

There is something symbolically apt, for example, about the way the grotesque figure of the dead paedophile, Father Brendan Smyth, has returned to threaten the position of the head of the Irish church, Cardinal Sean Brady.

The Guardian

If he spoke out, he said, the management would threaten to call the US immigration department.

The Guardian - Business

The ratings agency cited fragile and weakening banks as the main factor in its decision, stating: In order to maintain appropriate domestic bank capital levels, the Cypriot government will likely need to provide financial support to the country's banks that could threaten the sustainability of the government's debt burden So, who are the ratings agencies?

The Guardian

And Gordon Brown has made a bad situation worse – for himself too, as MPs threaten to resign or resort to legal advice.

The Guardian - Opinion

In a statement released after his conversation with the US president he said: "A deal that is based on this framework will threaten Israel's existence.

The Guardian

He did threaten to call his little boy Slinky as he was born out of a tumble down the stairs, but Mick's not one to rush names.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

David Cameron told the BBC that Sturgeon had made "a series of ransom demands" which would threaten Britain's defences by allegedly linking support for Labour with scrapping the new generation of Trident missiles.

The Guardian

"This event absolutely is not a harbinger of war, more likely it's a means of political pressure, to threaten war," he said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "threaten", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is the source of the threat and what is being threatened to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "threaten" with an indirect object without a clear prepositional phrase. Instead of saying "He threatened the dog", specify what the threat entails: "He threatened the dog with a stick."

Linguistic Context

The verb "threaten" primarily functions to express a conditional intention to inflict harm or negative consequences. This aligns with Ludwig's finding that it is used to describe actions that pose a risk or danger.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

29%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "threaten" is a versatile term used to express the intent or possibility of harm or negative consequences. Ludwig AI affirms that "threaten" is grammatically correct and frequently employed across diverse contexts. With "News & Media", "Formal & Business", and "Science" as the most frequent, it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using "threaten", ensure clarity in specifying the source and target of the threat to avoid ambiguity. While "threaten" suggests a warning or declaration of potential harm, alternatives like "menace", "endanger", and "intimidate" offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas with different implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

menace

Implies a sense of danger or potential harm, similar to "threaten" but often more general.

pose a threat to

Highlights the existence of a danger or risk. This alternative shifts the focus from the verb.

endanger

Focuses on putting someone or something at risk of harm or extinction. This shifts the focus from the act of threatening to the consequence.

jeopardize

Stresses the risk of losing or damaging something valuable. It emphasizes the potential loss that may arise from the threat.

intimidate

Highlights the use of fear to control or influence someone. Unlike "threaten", it emphasizes psychological manipulation.

coerce

Emphasizes the act of forcing someone to do something against their will through threats or pressure. The focus is on the lack of consent.

blackmail

Refers to extorting someone by threatening to reveal compromising information. This is a specific type of threatening behavior.

put at risk

A more general phrase that indicates the possibility of harm or danger, similar to "endanger". It does not have the active voice.

augur

To portend, or give a warning of, particularly concerning future events or outcomes.

portend

Indicates that something is a sign or warning of a future event. This word suggests a predictive quality to the threat.

FAQs

How can I use the word "threaten" in a sentence?

The word "threaten" can be used to describe someone making a threat, indicating potential harm or negative consequences. For example, "The robber threatened the clerk with a weapon."

What words can I use instead of "threaten"?

You can use words like "menace", "endanger", "jeopardize", or "intimidate" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "threaten" and "intimidate"?

"Threaten" implies stating an intention to inflict harm or punishment, while "intimidate" suggests using fear to control or influence someone. The former is a declaration, and the latter is an action with the aim to create fear.

Which is correct, "threaten to do something" or "threaten doing something"?

"Threaten to do something" is the correct usage. For example, "He threatened to resign" is correct, whereas "He threatened resigning" is grammatically incorrect.