credible threat
Plausible potential harm
A credible threat is a threat that appears capable of being carried out and is taken seriously.
The phrase appears often in legal and security contexts, where it determines whether protective action is warranted: The police investigated the credible threat against the mayor.
A threat lacking credibility—from someone without means or apparent intent—doesn't meet this threshold.
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- dangerExposure to harm
- imminent dangerThreat about to occur
- warningAlert about danger
- imminentAbout to occur
genuine · serious · plausible · intimidation · bodily harm · harm · violence · stalker · restraining order · ultimatum · blackmail · coercion · believable · substantive · looming · fear · security · national security
- coercionduress, coercing, compelling, forcing, demands
- stalkingstalking behavior, cyberstalking, following, obsession, social media stalking
credible threatidle threat
Warning without follow-through
empty threat · bluster · saber-rattling · false alarm · bluff
credible, threat, credit, credits, credited, crediting, credibility, incredible, incredibly