脅迫|きょうはくkyouhaku[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbthreat; menace; coercion; blackmail
   脅迫きょうはくのもとになされた約束やくそくは無効むこうだ。↗

   A promise given under a threat is worthless.

• Synonym脅すおどすNeutralNative verb for threatening or frightening someone (「ナイフで脅す」); common in everyday speech, while 「脅迫」 is a formal noun and the name of a crime.
• Synonym脅かすおどかすNeutralColloquial verb covering both serious threats and mere scares (「急に脅かすな」); unlike 「脅迫」 it can simply mean to startle someone.
• Synonym威嚇いかくNeutralNoun for intimidating by a show of power (「威嚇射撃」); not limited to force, and it overawes rather than threatens specific harm.
• Synonym恫喝どうかつNeutralNoun for browbeating with an imposing show of force (「恫喝外交」); its point is making the other side submit through fear.
• Synonym脅しおどしNeutralEveryday noun for a threat (「脅しに屈しない」); the common spoken counterpart to the formal 「脅迫」.
• Synonym脅しつけるおどしつけるNeutralTo threaten someone fiercely (「部下を脅しつける」); a stronger-toned verb than 「脅す」, stressing that you press the person into obeying.
• Synonym凄むすごむNeutralColloquial verb for putting on a fierce, intimidating manner (「低い声で凄む」); an attitude of menace rather than the formal act of 「脅迫」.
• Related恐喝きょうかつNeutralNoun for blackmail — extorting money or goods by threats (「恐喝罪」); 「脅迫」 covers threats in general, while this targets the money.
• Related脅かしおどかしNeutralColloquial noun for scaring someone into doing what you say; it comes from 「脅かす」 and is close in sense to 「脅し」, the noun from 「脅す」.
• Related強迫きょうはくNeutralNoun for forcing someone to do something against their will; the term used in civil law where the criminal code writes 「脅迫」, also in 「強迫観念」.
• Related恐嚇きょうかくWrittenWritten-style word for intimidation; rare, and everyday speech says 「脅し」 instead.
• Related脅喝きょうかつWrittenWritten-style word for threatening someone by holding their secrets or weaknesses over them; rare.
• Related威迫いはくWrittenWritten-style word for coercion or menace; rare, found mostly in legal texts.
• RelatedゆすりNeutralColloquial, slangy word for extortion or blackmail (「ゆすりたかり」); rough everyday speech where 「脅迫」 is formal and legal.
• Related強請きょうせいNeutralAlso written 「強請」, still read 「ゆすり」; means extortion or an extortionist, and turns up often in news reports.

For threatening someone with harm to their life, reputation or the like, use 「脅迫」 (「脅迫状」, 「脅迫罪」). In daily speech say 「脅す」; for extorting money, 「恐喝」; for a show of force, 「威嚇」; civil law writes 「強迫」.

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

1. 相手あいてに何なんかをさせようとして生命せいめいや名誉めいよなどを害がいすると脅おどしつけること。
2. 刑法けいほうなどで相手あいてに恐怖心きょうふしんを生しょうじさせる目的もくてきで害がいを加くわえることを通告つうこくすること。民法みんぽうで類似るいじの概念がいねんは「強迫きょうはく」と表記ひょうきされる。