threaten

/ˈθretn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈθretn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈthre-tᵊn/ (ame, mw)

threaten — verb

  • threatenpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • threatenshe / she / it
  • threatenedpast simple
  • threatening-ing form

1. to say clearly that you will harm, punish, or otherwise trouble another person u

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to say clearly that you will harm, punish, or otherwise trouble another person unless they agree to your demands

例句

Bilal threatened the shopkeeper with a knife if he did not hand over the money in the register.

threaten + object + with + noun (instrument or consequence)

The warehouse manager threatened to fire anyone who arrived late during the holiday rush.

threaten + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • intimidate

    focuses on making someone feel afraid rather than stating a consequence; slightly more formal

  • bully

    implies repeated, habitual threatening of a weaker person, often in a school or workplace setting

  • menace

    more dramatic and literary; can be used without words (his presence menaced the room)

  • coerce

    emphasises forcing someone to act through threats or pressure; more formal

反義詞
  • protect

    to keep someone safe instead of putting them in danger

  • encourage

    to give someone confidence or motivation through positive means rather than fear

文法句型

threaten + noun phrase (person)

threaten + to-infinitive

threaten + noun phrase + with + noun phrase

threaten + that-clause

用法筆記

Common patterns: the person being threatened is the direct object (threaten + someone). What you will do can be expressed with a to-infinitive (threaten to hurt someone) or a that-clause (threatened that he would...). The thing you will use to harm is introduced by with (threaten someone with a knife / with legal action).

常見錯誤

❌He threatened to her.
✅He threatened her.
💡threaten takes a direct object without 'to'.
❌She threatened me to go.
✅She threatened to hurt me if I did not go.
💡to express what you will do, use 'threaten to' + verb or 'threaten someone with something', not 'threaten someone to' + verb.
❌The robber threatened with a gun.
✅The robber threatened the cashier with a gun.
💡when saying what someone used to threaten, you must name the person being threatened before the 'with' phrase.

2. to put something or someone in danger of being harmed, damaged, or lost

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

to put something or someone in danger of being harmed, damaged, or lost

例句

Rising sea levels threaten the homes of millions of people living along the coast.

threaten + noun phrase (entity at risk from nature)

Air pollution in the city threatens the health of young children and elderly residents most severely.

同義詞
  • endanger

    nearly identical in meaning, but slightly more formal and specific to life-or-death situations

  • jeopardize

    emphasises putting a plan, project, or outcome at risk; often used in business contexts

  • imperil

    more formal and literary; almost always used for serious, life-threatening situations

反義詞
  • protect

    to keep something or someone safe from harm

  • safeguard

    to take active measures to prevent harm or risk

文法句型

threaten + noun phrase (entity at risk)

threaten + noun phrase + with + noun phrase (consequence)

用法筆記

The subject is always a situation, process, or phenomenon (pollution, war, development, disease), not a person acting deliberately. The sense does not take a to-infinitive or that-clause. The with + noun pattern specifies the potential outcome (threaten a species with extinction).

常見錯誤

❌The storm threatens the city to flood.
✅The storm threatens the city with flooding.
💡this sense does not take a to-infinitive; use 'threaten + object + with + noun' instead.
❌My boss threatens my job.' (when meaning boss might fire you)
✅My job is threatened by budget cuts.
💡a person acting deliberately belongs in sense 1; use sense 2 for impersonal dangers.

3. when an unpleasant event seems likely to occur soon, often giving warning throug

3.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

when an unpleasant event seems likely to occur soon, often giving warning through visible signs

例句

Dark clouds gathered over the valley and threatened to bring a heavy thunderstorm by evening.

threaten to do (weather as subject)

The conflict between the two neighbouring countries threatens to turn into a full-scale war.

同義詞
  • look likely to

    more neutral and less dramatic; used in everyday speech without the sense of danger

  • be on the verge of

    emphasises that the event is very close; works for both good and bad events

  • portend

    very formal and literary; implies a mysterious or ominous sign of future events

文法句型

threaten + to-infinitive (bad event about to happen)

用法筆記

The subject is never a person — it is always an impersonal situation or force (weather, conflict, economic trouble). Only takes the to-infinitive pattern; does not take a direct object or a that-clause. Common with verbs like become, bring, destroy, collapse, erupt, spill over.

常見錯誤

❌He threatens to rain.
✅The sky threatens to rain.
💡the subject must be an impersonal condition (the sky, the weather, the situation), not a person acting deliberately.
❌The storm threatens that it will flood.
✅The storm threatens to flood the town.
💡this sense does not take a that-clause; use the to-infinitive pattern.