Meaning
To say that you will hurt someone or cause trouble if they do not do what you want.
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Word origin
From Old English threatnian, to press or urge, from threat meaning trouble.
- Origin
- Old English
- Root
- threatnian
- English cognates
- threat
Grammar
Examples
.
To "threaten to" do something is to say you will do it to frighten someone.
.
Things can threaten too: the sky looked as if rain would come.
.
The passive form is "be threatened", when the trouble comes to you.
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English · Free printables
threaten: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the English word "threaten" (To say that you will hurt someone or cause trouble if they do not do what you want.): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is taught in chapter 15, lesson 10: threaten, plus, prefer and 7 more words.