threatens
Looms over ominously
Threatens is the present tense of threaten—to express an intention to harm or punish, or to pose a danger.
Someone threatens violence when they warn they might commit it: He threatened to call the police.
A storm threatens when it looms ominously.
Something can threaten without explicit warning—rising seas threaten coastal cities, budget cuts threaten programs.
The word implies potential harm not yet realized.
To put at risk
- imperilPut in danger
- jeopardizePut at risk
- riskPossibility of harm
- hazardSource of potential harm
peril · harm · injury · violence · attack · aggression · hostility · assault
Source of potential harm
- bullyHabitual intimidator
- browbeatIntimidate through pressure
- terrorizeFrighten into submission
- cowFemale bovine
overawe · domineer · harass · tyrannize · badger · hound · frighten · scare
Alert in advance
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- indicateSignal or point to
hint · suggest · portend · foreshadow · presage · herald · augur · forebode
Coercion through damaging threats
- extortObtain through coercion
- demandForceful request or requirement
- forceStrength or compulsion
- compelForce to act
pressure · strong-arm · muscle · leverage · ultimatum · ransom · shake down · hold hostage
endanger
To put at risk
- imperilPut in danger
- jeopardizePut at risk
- riskPossibility of harm
hazard · peril · harm · injury · violence · attack · aggression · hostility · assault · disaster
menace
Source of potential harm
cow · overawe · domineer · harass · tyrannize · badger · hound · frighten · scare · unnerve
forewarn
Alert in advance
indicate · hint · suggest · portend · foreshadow · presage · herald · augur · forebode · loom
blackmail
Coercion through damaging threats
compel · pressure · strong-arm · muscle · leverage · ultimatum · ransom · shake down · hold hostage · twist arm
- threatening behaviorActions conveying potential harm
- life-threatening diseaseCondition endangering survival
- threatened speciesWildlife at extinction risk
- threatening witnessesCoercing those who observed
- threatened habitatsEcosystems at risk of destruction
threatening, threaten, threatened, threateningly, unthreatening, threatener, unthreatened, threateners