THREAT Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

threat

noun

ˈthret

Definition of threat

as in danger

something that may cause injury or harm terrorism is a threat to the safety of people everywhere

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of threat Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico in 2025 and his escalating trade war with Canada this year have turned the countries’ attentions inward, onto disputes among the three partners, at precisely the moment when the threat is coming from the outside. — Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026 The challenge goes beyond protecting a reactor from conventional cyber threats. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026 Researchers say that more attention needs to be placed on the threat of tropical cyclones — a term that includes hurricanes and tropical storms — to Southern California. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 While the concern is valid, treating it only as a threat to defend against, rather than a capability to build, is the expensive mistake. — Manny Khan, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for threat

Recent Examples of Synonyms for threat

Noun

The same goes for Brooks–who obviously was in no danger of being cut.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Read more on the rising dangers of living downstream from a glacier here.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of danger

Noun

Ashcroft keeps the pace steady and the atmosphere churning, while Deming conjures a more generic but perfectly effective air of menace in damp shades of brown and teal.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
There are some crazy laser rays, goofy wipe transitions, robots who are menaces to society, to be sure.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of menace

Noun

Analysts warn that beyond crowded positioning and technical pullbacks, fundamental risks within the AI supply chain may also be emerging.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
States alleged that Meta’s internal research documented links between Instagram use and harms including depression, anxiety and body-image concerns among young people, while the company publicly minimized or concealed those risks.

— Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of risk

Noun

Whereas many tech leaders have, like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, touted the benefits of AI, many have also expressed concern about its perils.

— Reuters, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Yet despite years of warnings from the park’s visitors, attorneys and medical experts about the perils of riding X2, officials at the theme park – located in Valencia, California – and state regulators allowed the attraction to continue operating.

— Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of peril

Browse Nearby Words

thready

threat

threaten

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“Threat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threat. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of threat

noun

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