Threatening: meaning, definitions and examples
👿
threatening
[ ˈθrɛtənɪŋ ]
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.
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.
- ...
- 5226 contributing
- 5227 exclaimed
- 5228 economical
- 5229 threatening
- 5230 mayor
- 5231 choosing
- 5232 idle
- ...