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Definition of threatener

threatener

/ˈθrɛt.ən.ər/
threat · en · er
Adverb:threateningly
•
Plural:threateners
•
Adjective:threatening
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threatener Lexical Profile

threatener Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person or entity that utters threats, menaces, or expresses an intention to inflict harm, punishment, or distress upon another.

Example

"Law enforcement traced the anonymous messages back to the threatener within forty-eight hours."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

thready
threat
threaten
threatener
threatening
threateningly
three

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English as an agent noun from the verb 'threaten' (from Old English 'threatnian', meaning to press, urge, or menace) combined with the agentive suffix '-er'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Threatener. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/threatener
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