What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Threat vs Barrier - What's the difference?

threat | barrier |

As nouns the difference between threat and barrier

is that threat is an expression of intent to injure or punish another while barrier is a structure that bars passage.

As a verb threat

is (label) to press; urge; compel.

threat

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), (m), (m), .

Noun

(en noun)
  • An expression of intent to injure or punish another.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
    • There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats .
  • An indication of imminent danger.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katrina G. Claw
    • , title= Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm , volume=101, issue=3, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.}}
  • A person or object that is regarded as a danger; a menace.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 2, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC
    • , title= Bulgaria 0-3 England , passage=Rooney's United team-mate Chris Smalling was given his debut at right-back and was able to adjust to the international stage in relatively relaxed fashion as Bulgaria barely posed a threat of any consequence.}}
    Related terms
    * threaten * threatening

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (label) To press; urge; compel.
  • (archaic) To threaten.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.vii:
    • An hideous Geant horrible and hye, / That with his talnesse seemd to threat the skye
  • * 1599 , , V. i. 37:
    • O yes, and soundless too; / For you have stolen their buzzing, Antony, / And very wisely threat before you sting.
  • (label) To use threats; act or speak menacingly; threaten.

    • Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words

    barrier

    English

    (wikipedia barrier)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A structure that bars passage.
  • An obstacle or impediment.
  • * {{quote-magazine, title=Towards the end of poverty
    • , date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838, page=11, magazine=(The Economist) citation , passage=America’s poverty line is $63 a day for a family of four. In the richer parts of the emerging world $4 a day is the poverty barrier . But poverty’s scourge is fiercest below $1.25 ([…]): people below that level live lives that are poor, nasty, brutish and short.}}
  • A boundary or limit.

    • Derived terms

    * barrier reef * color barrier * crash barrier * diffusion-barrier * half-barrier * ice barrier * language barrier * racial barrier * sound barrier * tilt barrier * tire barrier * toll barrier