threatening Definition

threaten
verb threatened, threatening

1. To make or be a threat to someone or something.

Thesaurus: menace, intimidate, terrorize, bully, imperil, endanger, jeopardize.
2. To give warning of something, usually unpleasant or dangerous.

Thesaurus: warn of, foreshadow, forebode, presage, portend.
intr
3. Said of something unpleasant or dangerous: to seem likely to happen.

Example: The storm threatened all day

Derivative: threatening
adj

Suggestive or warning of danger or harm to come
Thesaurus: menacing, sinister, terrorizing, grim, baleful, bullying, warning, cautionary, ominous.

Derivative: threateningly
adverb

Etymology: 13c.