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Threatening: meaning, definitions and examples

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threatening

 

[ ˈθrɛtənɪŋ ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

in a situation

Causing someone to feel fear or anxiety; having a menacing quality or appearance.

Synonyms

intimidating, menacing, ominous, sinister

Examples of usage

  • His threatening gestures made her feel uneasy.
  • The dark clouds overhead looked threatening.
Context #2 | Noun

in a legal context

A statement of an intention to inflict pain, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone in retribution for something done or not done.

Synonyms

bullying, harassment, intimidation, menace

Examples of usage

  • The police took the threatening seriously and launched an investigation.
  • She received a threatening letter in the mail.

Translations

Translations of the word "threatening" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ameaçador

🇮🇳 धमकी भरा

🇩🇪 bedrohlich

🇮🇩 mengancam

🇺🇦 загрозливий

🇵🇱 groźny

🇯🇵 脅迫的な (kyōhakuteki na)

🇫🇷 menaçant

🇪🇸 amenazante

🇹🇷 tehditkar

🇰🇷 위협적인 (wiheopjeog-in)

🇸🇦 مهدد

🇨🇿 hrozivý

🇸🇰 hrozivý

🇨🇳 威胁的 (wēixié de)

🇸🇮 grozeč

🇮🇸 ógvekjandi

🇰🇿 қорқынышты

🇬🇪 მუქარის

🇦🇿 təhlükəli

🇲🇽 amenazante

Etymology

The word 'threatening' originates from the Middle English word 'threaten', which comes from the Old English 'threátian', meaning 'show an intention to inflict harm or pain'. The concept of threats has been present in human interactions throughout history, often used as a means of coercion, intimidation, or asserting dominance.

See also: threat, threaten, threatened.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,229 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.