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
Todd was charged on May 3, 2022, with four misdemeanor counts after he was allegedly captured on video making threatening remarks to police officers and illegally remaining within the building.
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Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
Prior to his death, MacGowan had been recently hospitalized after being diagnosed with encephalitis,which is an uncommon and potentially life threatening condition that causes the brain to swell, since December 2022 per Sky News.
—Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for threatening 
Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
Prior to his death, MacGowan had been recently hospitalized after being diagnosed with encephalitis,which is an uncommon and potentially life threatening condition that causes the brain to swell, since December 2022 per Sky News.
—Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for threatening
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Threatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threatening. Accessed 5 May. 2024.
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