How to say "threaten" in Japanese

• 脅かすおどかすJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbWith this reading, it means to threaten, menace, or intimidate a person, often to frighten them into doing something. It is the everyday word for threatening someone directly.
• 脅すおどすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbAlso used when a person threatens or menaces another, frequently to frighten them into doing something. Very close to おどかす in this sense, and often interchangeable with it.
  彼かれはそれを公表こうひょうすると脅おどした。↗

  He threatened to make it public.
• 脅かすおびやかすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbWith this reading, it means to threaten or endanger something such as peace, safety, or stability, rather than to intimidate a person. Use it when a situation or development jeopardizes something.
  これらは男性だんせいと女性じょせいをともに脅おびやかす危険きけんなものだ。↗

  There are dangers that threaten both men and women.

Use おどかす or おどす for threatening or intimidating a person, and おびやかす for things that threaten or endanger something abstract such as peace or safety.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 脅かすおどかすto threaten
• 脅すおどすto threaten
• 凄むすごむto threaten
• 脅しつけるおどしつけるto threaten
• 凄みを利かせるすごみをきかせるto threaten
• 脅しをかけるおどしをかけるto threaten
• ドスを効かせるドスをきかせるto threaten
• 圧倒あっとうto intimidate
• 脅かすおびやかすto threaten (e.g. peace)
• 王手をかけるおうてをかけるto threaten (someone's position, etc.)