THREATENED

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does threatened mean? 

• THREATENED (adjective)
  The adjective THREATENED has 1 sense:

1. (of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered

  Familiarity information: THREATENED used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THREATENED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered

Context example:

the spotted owl is a threatened species, not yet an endangered one

Similar:

vulnerable (susceptible to attack)

Domain category:

flora; plant; plant life ((botany) a living organism lacking the power of locomotion)

 Context examples 

The girl had to work hard during the day, and often the Witch threatened to beat her with the same old umbrella she always carried in her hand.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Grant's carriage and horses out to take her home, with which she was threatened.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Most threatened are larger birds and birds that have an insect or animal diet.

(Collapse of desert bird populations likely due to heat stress from climate change, National Science Foundation)

Till now that she was threatened with its loss, Emma had never known how much of her happiness depended on being first with Mr. Knightley, first in interest and affection.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

At last, as they drew near the end of their journey, this treacherous servant threatened to kill her mistress if she ever told anyone what had happened.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do his worst.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Besides, it was not the life of the herd, or of the young bulls, that was threatened.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

He is quite reasonable and fair in his calm moments, and as he is calm now he will not deny that only yesterday he threatened my life.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

It has always been at night-time that I have been molested or threatened, or in some way in danger or in fear.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

They ordered him to bed, threatened that he should have no meat at all, and promised him sore beatings for his presumption.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)