Definitions of threaten

1. To utter threats against; to menace; to inspire with apprehension; to alarm, or attempt to alarm, as with the promise of something evil or disagreeable; to warn.

2. To exhibit the appearance of ( something evil or unpleasant) as approaching; to indicate as impending; to announce the conditional infliction of; as, to threaten war; to threaten death.

3. To utter evil intentions against; be dangerous to; menace; foretell ( evil).

4. To utter menaces or threats against; be ominous or portentous of.

5. To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance.

6. To utter menaces; give notice of coming evil or danger.

7. pose a threat to; present a danger to; " The pollution is endangering the crops"

8. to utter intentions of injury or punishment against:" He threatened me when I tried to call the police"

9. to be a menacing indication of something:" The clouds threaten rain"; " Danger threatens"

10. To employ threats; have a menacing aspect.

11. To menace, or announce an intention to punish or to harm; to attempt to terrify with threats; to charge with threats; to charge strictly; to exhibit the appearance of something unpleasant approaching.

12. To announce openly the purpose of inflicting punishment or injury on another; to attempt to terrify by threats or menaces; to present the appearance of coming evil; to exhibit the appearance of some coming danger or evil.