threat

noun

US /θret/

Word Forms

singular	threat
plural	threats

1
countable an occasion when someone says that they will cause you harm or problems, especially if you do not do what they tell you to do
threat of:
After threats of legal action they stopped the construction.
make/issue a threat:
He would not make threats he wasn’t prepared to carry out.
death threats:
He had received death threats.
a bomb threat:
A bomb threat forced them to make an emergency landing.
an idle/empty threat (=a threat that is not serious):
This isn’t just an idle threat.
a phone threat:
She is charged with making phone threats to her ex-husband.
Synonyms and related words
Statements and announcements
abjuration
accusation
a contradiction in terms
2
countable/uncountable a situation or an activity that could cause harm or danger
pose a threat:
The dispute poses a direct threat (=is a threat) to peace.
a threat to freedom/democracy
threat to:
Officials were confident there had been no threat to public health.
Synonyms and related words
Risks, threats and dangers
risk
hazard
menace
Synonyms and related words
Dangerous or exciting situations
danger
crisis
emergency
1. 2a
  countable someone who might defeat you or might cause problems for you
  She is not viewed as a threat by her former employer.
  threat to:
  He saw the other man as a real threat to his marriage.
  Synonyms and related words
  Risks, threats and dangers
  risk
  hazard
  menace
2. 2b
  countable/uncountable the possibility that something bad is going to happen
  threat of:
  Constant threat of attack makes everyday life dangerous here.
  The threat of full-scale war has not been averted.
  face a threat:
  They face the threat of terrorism every day.
  Synonyms and related words
  The possibility that something will happen
  possibility
  chance
  probability
Collocates
Verbs frequently used with threat as the object
▪ avert, combat, constitute, counter, dismiss, face, ignore, neutralize, pose, present

phrases

under threat

threat ​‌‌‌

threat ​‌‌‌

threat

threat