as in dangers
something that may cause injury or harm
terrorism is a threat to the safety of people everywhere
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of threats
If needed, these personal alarms can be used to ward off threats, including people or animals, and serve to alert nearby rescue teams.
—
Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
The human stress response is a brilliant piece of engineering for acute threats, like a lion circling on the savanna.
—Big Think, 1 May 2026
The proposals also come after leaders of the two countries had exchanged some of their harshest threats, Khan said, fueling fears that military hostilities could resume at any moment.
—Toqa Ezzidin, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
In California, the Bane Act allows lawsuits against those who use threats, coercion or intimidation to violate a person’s constitutional rights.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
Kristil Krug’s cousin believes that if communications companies had been compelled to respond faster, officials could have identified who was making the threats and saved her.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Unlike airports, which screen passengers and their luggage, train passengers aren't screened and Amtrak doesn't run passenger names through a criminal database to identify possible threats.
—CBS News, 1 May 2026
Militarily, Trump’s threats to NATO rattle the free world.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
Some of the bettors, who’d put money against such a missile reaching Israel on March 10, even made death threats against him.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
The human stress response is a brilliant piece of engineering for acute threats, like a lion circling on the savanna.
—Big Think, 1 May 2026
The proposals also come after leaders of the two countries had exchanged some of their harshest threats, Khan said, fueling fears that military hostilities could resume at any moment.
—Toqa Ezzidin, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
In California, the Bane Act allows lawsuits against those who use threats, coercion or intimidation to violate a person’s constitutional rights.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
Kristil Krug’s cousin believes that if communications companies had been compelled to respond faster, officials could have identified who was making the threats and saved her.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Unlike airports, which screen passengers and their luggage, train passengers aren't screened and Amtrak doesn't run passenger names through a criminal database to identify possible threats.
—CBS News, 1 May 2026
Militarily, Trump’s threats to NATO rattle the free world.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
Some of the bettors, who’d put money against such a missile reaching Israel on March 10, even made death threats against him.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threats
Noun
-
The crisis dominated headlines for months, reinforcing warnings about the dangers of vaping, particularly among young people.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
But others, like Chief Justice John Roberts, wondered what would happen if the federal government moved more slowly than states did, who wanted to act quickly on information about new dangers.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Experts like Hofflinger question whether local building standards are sufficient or thoroughly enforced enough to prevent fire risks.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Studies have linked prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation from radioactive fallout to elevated risks of disease, most notably leukemia and thyroid cancer, particularly among children.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Our roads are concussion- and whiplash-inducing menaces.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But the ability to beat back our more routine pathological menaces is a good indicator of the country’s ability to take on bigger, more virulent threats.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Four years ago, the EU received a crash course in the perils of foreign fossil fuel dependence.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
King Charles has been vocal about sustainability and the perils and consequences of climate change for decades.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Threats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threats. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
