threaten

v. to tell someone you will hurt them or cause problems if they do not do what you want.

v. to express an intention to inflict punishment, injury, or negative consequences on someone, often to coerce their behaviour.

“The manager threatened to fire anyone who arrived late for the third time.”

“The hijackers threatened to harm the hostages unless their demands for safe passage and fuel were met immediately.”

v. to be a likely danger to something or someone.

v. to pose a danger or a source of harm to the stability or existence of something.

“Pollution from the factory is starting to threaten the fish in the river.”

“The sudden rise in interest rates began to threaten the viability of small businesses that relied on short-term credit lines.”

v. to be a sign that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen soon.

v. to give a sign or warning of an impending unpleasant event.

“Dark clouds were gathering and a storm threatened to break at any moment.”

“Although the morning was clear, the heavy humidity and shifting winds threatened a severe thunderstorm by late afternoon.”

v. to come close to beating a record or to make people doubt an idea.

v. to challenge the validity of a concept or to approach the threshold of surpassing a standing record.

“The young athlete's speed began to threaten the world record set ten years ago.”

“New archaeological evidence has emerged that may threaten the long-held theory regarding the migration patterns of early humans.”

Academic