threat

Someone or something that could hurt people or cause serious problems.

• The loose wire is a threat to safety.
• Pollution poses a serious threat to wildlife.
• Are these insects a threat to our crops?

How to use it: a threat to someone/something (This disease is a threat to young trees.)

Similar words: danger, hazard

Common phrases: pose a threat, serious threat, security threat

Words saying you will hurt someone or cause trouble, often to make them do something.

• He made a threat against me.
• She received threats after speaking publicly.
• His threat to leave made them reconsider.

How to use it: a threat to do something (His threat to quit worried his manager.)

Common phrases: make a threat, death threat, empty threat, violent threat

A sign or possibility that something harmful may happen soon.

• The threat of rain kept us indoors.
• There was no immediate threat of violence.
• They closed the school because of a bomb threat.

How to use it: the threat of something (The threat of flooding forced us to leave.)

Similar words: risk, danger

Common phrases: threat of rain, immediate threat, looming threat