脅威(きょうい)

きょうい
noun
threat; menace
formalwritten
See also: 驚異(きょうい) (wonder, marvel)
1. threat, menace
Something that poses a danger or inspires fear. Used for serious threats in political, military, environmental, and security contexts. More formal and weighty than 脅(おど)し.
安全(あんぜん)保障(ほしょう)への脅威(きょうい)が高(たか)まっている。
The threat to national security is growing.
地球(ちきゅう)温暖(おんだん)化(か)は人類(じんるい)にとって大(おお)きな脅威(きょうい)だ。
Global warming is a great threat to humanity.
サイバー攻撃(こうげき)の脅威(きょうい)に備(そな)えるため、企業(きぎょう)はセキュリティ対策(たいさく)を強化(きょうか)している。
Companies are strengthening their security measures to prepare for the threat of cyberattacks.

Usage

A formal, serious word used in news, politics, and academic contexts. Not used for trivial or personal-level threats. Carries a tone of gravity and urgency.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 脅(おど)し: threat, intimidation (direct personal threat, less formal)
  • 危険(きけん): danger, risk (broader; not necessarily from an external agent)
  • 危機(きき): crisis (more immediate and urgent)

Related Words

Related: 危機(きき) (crisis)
Compare: 危険(きけん) (danger, risk (broader)
general
Added 2026.2.27 16:06 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13932_kyoui