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Definition of threatening

threatening

/ˈθrɛt.ən.ɪŋ/
threat · en · ing
Adverb:threateningly
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threatening Lexical Profile

threatening Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Having a hostile, intimidating, or frightening manner that suggests an intention to cause harm or trouble.

Example

"The stray dog gave a low, threatening growl when anyone approached the gate."

2

Giving signs of approaching danger, unpleasantness, or severe weather.

Example

"We decided to postpone our hike after noticing the dark, threatening clouds gathering over the ridge."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for threatening

• Nearby Words

threat
threaten
threatener
threatening
threateningly
three
three chute

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the verb 'threaten', which traces back to the Old English noun 'threat', originally meaning a crowd, troop, or painful pressure and coercion.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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