godan verb (-su), transitive verb
threaten; menace; frighten into doing
Used for directly threatening someone with harm or negative consequences, often to coerce an action. Compare 脅かす (おどかす), which can also mean to startle or surprise.
See also: 脅かす (おどかす)
彼はナイフで私を脅した。
He threatened me with a knife.
証人を脅して口を閉ざさせようとした。
They tried to threaten the witness into silence.