English Meaning & Definitions
Causing fear or a sense of impending danger or harm; expressing a threat.
- “She stepped back when she saw the man's threatening posture.”
- “Dark, threatening clouds gathered on the horizon before the storm broke.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “threatening”.
Derived from the verb 'threaten', originating from Old English 'þrēatian' (meaning to afflict, oppress, or urge), which stems from a Proto-Germanic root related to crowding or pressing. The modern adjectival form developed in the late Middle English period.
Think of a 'threat' hiding inside the word 'threatening' to easily remember its meaning of causing fear or danger.
Frequently Asked Questions About “threatening”
1. What is the meaning of “threatening” in English?
In English, threatening (adjective) is defined as: “Causing fear or a sense of impending danger or harm; expressing a threat.”.
2. How do you use “threatening” in a sentence?
“She stepped back when she saw the man's threatening posture.”
3. What are English synonyms of “threatening”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “threatening”?
Derived from the verb 'threaten', originating from Old English 'þrēatian' (meaning to afflict, oppress, or urge), which stems from a Proto-Germanic root related to crowding or pressing. The modern adjectival form developed in the late Middle English period.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.