# threat vs threaten

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### threat
*noun · IPA /θɹɛt/ · frequency rank #2,506*
An expression of intent to injure or punish another.

### threaten
*verb · IPA /ˈθɹɛt.n̩/ · frequency rank #7,861*
To make a threat against someone; to use threats.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/threat-vs-threaten