threats
Promises of harm
Threats are expressions of intent to cause harm, damage, or punishment if certain conditions aren't met.
A threat can be verbal, written, or implied through action: He made threats against his former employer.
Beyond interpersonal conflict, threat extends to any source of potential danger or harm: Climate change poses a serious threat to coastal cities.
Something described as a threat may not have made explicit hostile statements but simply represents a risk or challenge to safety, stability, or success.
Coercion through damaging threats
- extortionObtaining through threats
- duressCoercion through threats
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
harassment · strong-arming · arm-twisting · menacing · terrorizing · pressure · compulsion · scare tactics
Source of potential harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- menaceSource of potential harm
- jeopardyRisk of harm
- riskPossibility of harm
harm · vulnerability · exposure · looming · imminent · existential · mortal · credible
Violent offensive act
- attackAggressive act against another
- aggressionHostile or attacking behavior
- bombingAttack with explosives
- shootingDischarging a weapon
stabbing · terrorism · warfare · hostility · bodily harm · kill · maim · retaliation
Malicious digital intrusion
- hackingInfiltrating protected digital systems
- malwareHarmful computer programs
- ransomwareHostage-taking code
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
breach · intrusion · espionage · infiltration · sabotage · vulnerability · exploit · zero-day
Planetary atmospheric transformation
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
rising seas · flooding · wildfire · invasive species · habitat loss · biodiversity · ecosystem collapse · ozone depletion
blackmail
Coercion through damaging threats
bullying · harassment · strong-arming · arm-twisting · menacing · terrorizing · pressure · compulsion · scare tactics · domination
hazard
Source of potential harm
risk · harm · vulnerability · exposure · looming · imminent · existential · mortal · credible · potential
assault
Violent offensive act
- attackAggressive act against another
- aggressionHostile or attacking behavior
- bombingAttack with explosives
shooting · stabbing · terrorism · warfare · hostility · bodily harm · kill · maim · retaliation · revenge
cyberattack
Malicious digital intrusion
- hackingInfiltrating protected digital systems
- malwareHarmful computer programs
- ransomwareHostage-taking code
phishing · breach · intrusion · espionage · infiltration · sabotage · vulnerability · exploit · zero-day · DDoS
climate change
Planetary atmospheric transformation
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
rising seas · drought · flooding · wildfire · invasive species · habitat loss · biodiversity · ecosystem collapse · ozone depletion · contamination
alert
Warning or watchfulness
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- notificationFormal notice given
advisory · caution · siren · beacon · announcement · forecast · indicator · sign · red flag · harbinger
- aggressionhostility, violence, attack, fight, combativeness
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- intimidationmenacing, bullying, menace, bully, browbeating
- misconductmisconduct, bullying, stealing, vandalism, cheating
- red flagsred flags, warning signs, warning, caution, alarm
- road ragetailgating, honking, cutting off, brake checking, middle finger
threatsreassurances
Statements restoring confidence
assurances · comforts · encouragements · blessings · well-wishes
threatssafeguards
Measures preventing harm
protections · securities · safety · defenses · opportunities
threatspromises
Sworn statements of intent
guarantees · inducements · incentives · rewards · enticements
- death threatStated intent to murder
- empty threatWarning without substance
- bomb threatClaim of planted explosive
- nuclear threatRisk of warhead deployment
- criminal threatsIllegal statements promising harm
- triple threatPerformer with three skills
threat, threatening, threaten, threatened, threatens, threateningly, unthreatening, threatener, non-threatening