threat

threat — noun

1. a spoken or written warning that you will hurt someone or cause them trouble, es

1.nounB1
Definition

a spoken or written warning that you will hurt someone or cause them trouble, especially to make them follow your orders

Example

Jiwoo ignored her boss's threat to fire her and kept speaking out.

threat + to-infinitive for intended punishment

The masked man delivered a threat to the bank manager, demanding the money by noon.

Common collocations
  • death threat
  • bomb threat
  • carry out a threat
  • issue a threat
  • veiled threat
  • idle threat
  • empty threat
Synonyms
  • menace

    stronger and more personal; suggests direct danger rather than a stated intention

  • warning

    broader; can refer to any advance notice of harm, not necessarily a demand

  • ultimatum

    a final threat with a clear deadline; more formal and specific

Antonyms
  • promise

    a commitment to do something good, rather than something harmful

  • reassurance

    words intended to remove fear, not create it

Grammar Patterns

threat + to-infinitive

threat + of + noun phrase

make + threat

carry out + threat

Usage Note

Common in legal and formal reporting contexts. Often followed by a to-infinitive or an of-phrase that specifies the intended harmful action.

Common Mistakes

He made a threaten to call the police.
He made a threat to call the police.
'threaten' is the verb form; 'threat' is the noun.

2. a situation in which something bad, dangerous, or unpleasant is likely to happen

2.nounB1
Definition

a situation in which something bad, dangerous, or unpleasant is likely to happen or to affect someone or something

Example

The flood threat forced Eitan's family to evacuate their home at midnight.

[noun] + threat — compound structure for a danger type

Beatriz felt a constant threat of violence living in the damaged city during the war.

Common collocations
  • under threat
  • pose a threat
  • military threat
  • security threat
  • health threat
  • environmental threat
  • flood threat
  • storm threat
Synonyms
  • danger

    more general; the possibility of harm without necessarily implying intent

  • risk

    focuses on the chance of harm in a specific situation; often used in statistics and planning

  • peril

    more literary; suggests immediate, serious danger

Antonyms
  • safety

    the state of being free from danger

  • security

    being protected against possible harm

Grammar Patterns

under + threat

pose + threat + to

threat + of + noun

[noun] + threat

Usage Note

Subject of the threat is often a natural disaster, disease, or other impersonal force. Common in the pattern 'under threat (of something)' to indicate a current state of danger.

Common Mistakes

The storm is a threaten to the city.
The storm is a threat to the city.
'threat' is a noun; use 'threaten' when you need the verb.

threat — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words concern communicating possible harm, but they differ in force and purpose. 'Threat' (noun/1) is the most neutral: it simply states an intention to harm, often to force compliance. 'Menace' carries a darker, more personal tone — a menace feels like ongoing danger rather than a single statement. 'Ultimatum' is more formal; it presents a final demand with a clear consequence and deadline, leaving no room for negotiation. 'Warning' is the broadest term; it can be given for the listener's own good ('a storm warning') and does not necessarily involve a demand. For example, 'The robber issued a threat to shoot if anyone moved' carries a different weight than 'The country issued an ultimatum demanding the troops withdraw within 48 hours.'

threat ↗menaceultimatumwarning ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • make a threat
  • empty threat
  • credible threat
  • under threat

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Old English 'þreat' meaning 'a crowd, an oppressive force, a menace', related to Old Saxon 'throt' (threat) and Old Norse 'þraut' (difficulty, distress). Over centuries the meaning narrowed from a general sense of 'pressing force' to the specific idea of a spoken statement of intended harm.