- threaten
- verb1 warn sb that you may hurt, kill or punish themADVERB▪ publicly▪ personally, physically▪
He says he was physically threatened in an attempt to get him to sign over his rights.
▪ repeatedly▪She had repeatedly threatened to commit suicide.
▪ allegedly, reportedlyPREPOSITION▪ with▪She threatened him with a gun.
PHRASES▪ feel threatened▪I never felt threatened by him.
2 be likely to harm/destroy sthADVERB▪ gravely (esp. AmE), seriously, severely▪Our way of life is gravely threatened.
▪social unrest which seriously threatens the stability of the whole area
▪ increasingly▪ directly▪ constantly, continually▪Our marriage was constantly threatened by his other women.
▪ potentiallyVERB + THREATEN▪ could▪ appear to, seem toPHRASES▪ be threatened with sth▪Many species are now threatened with extinction.
Threaten is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑danger, ↑disaster, ↑rain, ↑union, ↑violence, ↑war, ↑weatherThreaten is used with these nouns as the object: ↑annihilation, ↑boycott, ↑civilization, ↑crackdown, ↑economy, ↑environment, ↑existence, ↑fabric, ↑foundation, ↑freedom, ↑future, ↑habitat, ↑health, ↑industrial action, ↑institution, ↑integrity, ↑interest, ↑liberty, ↑life, ↑litigation, ↑livelihood, ↑neighbour, ↑peace, ↑penalty, ↑rain, ↑rebellion, ↑reprisal, ↑resignation, ↑retaliation, ↑safety, ↑sanction, ↑sanity, ↑security, ↑sovereignty, ↑stability, ↑status quo, ↑stoppage, ↑strike, ↑suicide, ↑supply, ↑survival, ↑veto, ↑viability, ↑violence, ↑well-being, ↑wildlife, ↑witness
Collocations dictionary. 2013.