different between threaten vs terrorize

English

Etymology

From Middle English þreaten or þreten, from Old English þr?atian.

Pronunciation

• enPR: thr?t?n?, IPA^(key): /????t.n?/
• Hyphenation: threat?en

Verb

threaten (third-person singular simple present threatens, present participle threatening, simple past and past participle threatened)

1. To make a threat against someone; to use threats.

   He threatened me with a knife.

2. To menace, or be dangerous.

   The rocks threatened the ship's survival.

3. To portend, or give a warning of.

   The black clouds threatened heavy rain.

4. (figuratively) To be close to equaling or surpassing (a record, etc.)
   • 2000, Lew Freedman, Diamonds in the Rough: Baseball Stories from Alaska, ?ISBN, page 69

     The player quickly surmised that things weren't kosher and the suddenly wiser ballplayer threatened the world record for the fifty-yard dash as he sought safety. As Reynolds dived into the van, Dietz and the other players rolled with laughter.

Usage notes

• This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• terrorise (chiefly British)

Etymology

terror +? -ize

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t????a?z/

Verb

terrorize (third-person singular simple present terrorizes, present participle terrorizing, simple past and past participle terrorized) (transitive)

1. To fill (someone) with terror; to terrify.
2. To coerce (someone) by using threats or violence.

Synonyms

• (fill with terror): petrify, terrify
• (coerce by threats or violence): bully, hector

Related terms

• terrorism
• terrorist

Translations