Threat θret Make Carry Noun Prepared Resign Received

• to make threats against somebody
• she is prepared to carry out her threat to resign.
• he received death threats from right-wing groups.
• a phony bomb threat

threat

1. a statement in which you tell somebody that you will punish or harm them, especially if they do not do what you want
• to make threats against somebody
• She is prepared to carry out her threat to resign.
• He received death threats from right-wing groups.
• a phony bomb threat
• crimes involving violence or the threat of violence

Extra Examples

• It's unwise to make threats that you cannot carry out.
• The kids took no notice of the teacher's idle threats.
• The company's pay offer was accompanied by thinly veiled threats if it was rejected.
• The government refused to give in to the hijackers' threats.
• Teachers have lifted their threat of strike action.
2. the possibility of trouble, danger or disaster
• These ancient woodlands are under threat from new road developments.
• Many wild plants are under threat of extinction.
• There is a real threat of war.
• the threat of terrorism/violence/attack
• the imminent/immediate/real/potential threat of something
• With little access to clean drinking water and sanitation, the inhabitants face a constant threat of disease.
• The forecast is for rain with the threat of thunderstorms.
• At the end of the Cold War, the nuclear threat receded.
• What can we do to counter this threat?
3. a person or thing that is likely to cause trouble, danger, etc.
• Drugs pose a major threat to our society.
• We're facing a very strong terrorist threat.
• He is unlikely to be a threat to the Spanish player in the final.
• The missiles present a clear threat to the security of the nation.
• The magazine asked about the greatest threats to world peace.
• a threat to health/life/safety
• the threat from overfishing
• Viruses and other internet security threats can look like valid files or photos.
• Food insecurity represents a serious threat for humanity.

Extra Examples

• the environmental threat posed by oil spillages
• Translators do not yet perceive computers as a threat to their livelihood.
• The opposition presents no immediate threat to the government.
• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.

Word Origin

• Old English thrēat ‘oppression’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch verdrieten ‘grieve’, German verdriessen ‘irritate’.