threatening
adjective
threat·en·ing
ˈthret-niŋ 
ˈthre-tᵊn-iŋ
: expressing or suggesting a threat of harm, danger, etc.
received a threatening message
a threatening manner
: indicating or suggesting the approach of possible trouble or danger
saw threatening clouds on the horizon
Examples of threatening in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Have you ever been involved in a situation that was extremely threatening, or dangerous, or somehow dramatic?
—
Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said at the time that Crumbley was caught making threatening statements by phone and electronic messages while in custody before the start of the trial.
—Jean Casarez, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
Schreiber’s gruff, salt-of-the-earth Flynn lacks a threatening underside, like a rock without worms squirming beneath.
—Naveen Kumar, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Police records show at least 20 calls made to Moreno’s home from 2019 to 2023, some of them for allegations of harassment and threatening behavior.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 15 Feb. 2024
But in recent months, the White House has seemed more preoccupied with its China détente program than with responding to specific instances of the CCP’s threatening and repressive behavior.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 Mar. 2024
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, who is investigating the case, said the boys came into the bank and allegedly showed a threatening note to a teller, ABC 13 reported.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024
The boys allegedly made off with an undisclosed amount of cash after entering the bank around 3 p.m. Thursday and passing a threatening note to a teller, KTRK-TV reported, citing the sheriff’s office.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2024
In Milwaukee, most 911 calls for non-life threatening incidents are answered by two private ambulance companies, Curtis Ambulance and Bell Ambulance, which the Milwaukee Fire Department to allocate its limited resources to more serious calls.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2024
Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said at the time that Crumbley was caught making threatening statements by phone and electronic messages while in custody before the start of the trial.
—Jean Casarez, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
Schreiber’s gruff, salt-of-the-earth Flynn lacks a threatening underside, like a rock without worms squirming beneath.
—Naveen Kumar, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Police records show at least 20 calls made to Moreno’s home from 2019 to 2023, some of them for allegations of harassment and threatening behavior.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 15 Feb. 2024
But in recent months, the White House has seemed more preoccupied with its China détente program than with responding to specific instances of the CCP’s threatening and repressive behavior.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 Mar. 2024
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, who is investigating the case, said the boys came into the bank and allegedly showed a threatening note to a teller, ABC 13 reported.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024
The boys allegedly made off with an undisclosed amount of cash after entering the bank around 3 p.m. Thursday and passing a threatening note to a teller, KTRK-TV reported, citing the sheriff’s office.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2024
In Milwaukee, most 911 calls for non-life threatening incidents are answered by two private ambulance companies, Curtis Ambulance and Bell Ambulance, which the Milwaukee Fire Department to allocate its limited resources to more serious calls.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'threatening.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near threatening
Cite this Entry
“Threatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threatening. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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