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threaten

/ˈθɹɛt.n̩/
Meanings
  • verb

    Make a statement or show an intention, often menacing, to inflict pain, injury, or other harm on someone or something.

    - "The bully threatened to punch me if I didn't give him my lunch money."
    - "The company threatened to lay off employees if they didn't accept the new contract."
  • verb

    Give warning of potential danger or damage.

    - "The weather forecast threatened heavy rain and flooding."
    - "The doctor threatened complications if the patient didn't follow her advice."
Pronunciation
  1. /ˈθɹɛt.n̩/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1762787"
Rhymes
Words rhyming with threaten
meet again , sweat in a ghetto , greet with a fretful , anxious feeling
Homonyms
Words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings and origins

  1. threaten (en) : to make a statement, often intimidating, that one intends to take action

  2. threaten (en) : to put in danger; expose to a hazard

  3. threaten (en) : to put under a threat; expose to danger or harm

  4. threaten (en) : to make a promise or offer

  5. threaten (en) : to put forward as a challenge or a dare

Homophones
Words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling,

  1. threaten (en) : to make a statement, often intimidating, that one intends to take action

  2. threaten (en) : to put in danger; expose to a hazard

  3. threaten (en) : to put under a threat; expose to danger or harm

Variants
List of all variants of threaten that leads to same result
threaten , threatened , threatener , threateners , threatening , threateningly , threatens
Forms
Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).

past tense: threatened, past participle: threatened, gerund: threatening

Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old English trēathen, trēotan: to frighten, intimidate, torment.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The word 'threaten' comes from the Old English word 'trēotan', which means 'to frighten, intimidate, or torment'.

  2. The term 'threat assessment' is used in security and law enforcement to evaluate the likelihood and potential impact of a threat.

  3. In the Harry Potter series, the character Dolores Umbridge is known for her use of threats and intimidation to maintain control.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. intimidation: The act of making someone fearful or intimidated, often to gain compliance or control.

  2. bullying: The use of threat or force to intimidate or coerce someone, often repeated and habitual.

  3. harassment: A pattern of behavior intended to intimidate or cause distress or harm.

Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Threats have been a common theme in literature, particularly in thriller and suspense genres. They can also be found in music, such as heavy metal or hip hop songs, and in art, where they can be used to convey fear, tension, or danger.

How to Memorize "threaten"

  1. visualize

    - Imagine a situation where someone is making a threat. Visualize their facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. Consider what they are threatening and why.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'threaten' with the idea of danger or harm. Think about situations where you have felt threatened or intimidated.

  3. mnemonics

    - Create a mnemonic using the first letter of each definition: 'T-hreats M-ake A-ctions, Intimidating, N-ever Forget.'

Memorize "threaten" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize threaten is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

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