threatening

[thret-n-ing] / ˈθrɛt n ɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

menacing, ominous

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aggressive alarming cautionary dangerous dire sinister ugly

STRONG

bullying close impending looming lowering near overhanging portending scowling terrorizing warning

WEAK

apocalyptic at hand baleful baneful comminatory fateful forthcoming grim ill-boding imminent impendent inauspicious intimidatory loury lowery minacious minatory portentous unlucky unpropitious unsafe upcoming

Antonyms

STRONGEST

good kind nice safe

STRONG

away distant far remote

WEAK

pleasant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Experts are increasingly warning of a "China shock 2.0", with a glut of inexpensive goods made in the Asian powerhouse threatening manufacturers around the world as trade deficits widen.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Attorney’s Office, hundreds of cases were reopened, creating chaos and resource allocation issues, and threatening judicial integrity.

From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026

The last outbreak that came close to threatening American cattle was in the 1970s, but at that time no screwworms were ever found inside the US.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

The Indian rupee shed over 6% against the dollar in 2026, hammered by high oil prices threatening to swell India’s import bill.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

I shiver, disturbed that such a motionless man can seem so threatening.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Vocabulary lists containing threatening

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