threaten

Universal Words verb 1 ~ sb (with sth) to say that you will cause trouble, hurt sb, etc. if you do not get what you want: [VN] They broke my windows and threatened me. * The attacker threatened them with a gun. * He was threatened with dismissal if he continued to turn up late for work. * The threatened strike has been called off. * [Vtoinf] The hijackers threatened to kill one passenger every hour if their demands were not met. [also Vthat] 2 to seem likely to happen or cause sth unpleasant: [V] A storm was threatening. * When war threatens, people act irrationally. * [Vtoinf] This dispute threatens to split the party. * [VN] The clouds threatened rain. 3 [VN] to be a danger to sth: Pollution along the coastline is threatening marine life. \