Threatening

/ˈθrɛtənɪŋ/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a declaration of an intention to cause harm or evil.

She received a threatening letter that made her feel unsafe.

adjective

having a menacing or ominous quality that suggests harm or danger.

The dark clouds in the sky looked threatening, signaling an impending storm.

expressing or indicating a desire to cause harm or danger.

His threatening tone made everyone in the room feel uneasy.

dangerous or likely to become violent.

The threatening behavior of the dog made the children back away cautiously.

Middle English, from the verb 'threaten', combined with the suffix '-ing'.

threatening behavior

actions that indicate an intention to cause harm

threatening skies

clouds that suggest an approaching storm or bad weather

threatening outlook

a situation that implies risks or dangers ahead

threat

a declaration of an intention to inflict harm

menace

a person or thing that is likely to cause harm

intimidation

the act of making someone feel afraid

heavy vibes

The way he stared at me was giving me some heavy vibes.

bad juju

That deal sounds like bad juju, better stay away.