threat

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threat / [unvoicedth]ret/ • n. 1. a statement of an intention to inflict pain, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone in retribution for something done or not done: members of her family have received death threats. ∎  Law a menace of bodily harm, such as may restrain a person's freedom of action.2. a person or thing likely to cause damage or danger: hurricane damage poses a major threat to many coastal communities. ∎  [in sing.] the possibility of trouble, danger, or ruin: the company faces the threat of bankruptcy | thousands of railroad jobs came under threat.

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