threatening

threaten (ˈθrɛt^ən)

—vb
1.	(tr) to be a threat to
2.	to be a menacing indication of (something); portend: dark clouds threatened rain
3.	(when tr, may take a clause as object) to express a threat to (a person or people)

'threatener

—n

'threatening

—*adj*

'threateningly

—*adv*

threaten (ˈθrɛt^ən)

—vb
1.	(tr) to be a threat to
2.	to be a menacing indication of (something); portend: dark clouds threatened rain
3.	(when tr, may take a clause as object) to express a threat to (a person or people)

'threatener

—n

'threatening

—*adj*

'threateningly

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Example sentences

Menacing body posture can be as threatening as a frightening facial expression, according to new research.

She makes a habit of going around threatening to shoot people.

There was a commotion in the air, made up of many threatening sounds, coming upon us from the sea.

Few invasive species play their threatening parts with as much panache as the northern snakehead.

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Matching Quote

"When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."

-unknown author