threatens

Threatens is the third-person singular present tense of the verb threaten. To threaten is to indicate or imply the intention to cause harm, impose a penalty, or otherwise coerce someone, often in a way that creates fear or pressure to act accordingly. Threats can be spoken, written, or conveyed through actions or gestures, and they may be explicit (for example, “If you miss the deadline, I will sue you”) or implicit (for example, statements that suggest harm without stating it outright). The term is used across many contexts, including personal interactions, business, politics, and law.

Threats often function to influence behavior, whether in interpersonal disputes, negotiations, or intimidation. The force of a threat can depend on credibility, perceived immediacy, and the ability to carry out the threatened action. In many jurisdictions, threats—especially those involving violence or coercion—are regulated or punished to protect safety and autonomy. Legal systems commonly distinguish between true threats, which are illegal, and non-threatening expressions of opinion or sarcasm, which may be protected speech in some jurisdictions.

Linguistically, threaten can pair with different constructions to convey variety in meaning. The noun form threats refers to the statements or conditions that pose the danger, while the verb form threatens describes the act of making such statements. Common example sentences include: “He threatens to quit unless given a raise,” and “She threatened legal action.” The term’s usage spans both ordinary conversation and formal discourse.

See also threat assessment, intimidation, coercion, and related legal concepts.