counterthreats

/ˈkaʊntərˌθrɛts/
noun
  1. Threats made in response to another threat, often to discourage an opponent from acting.
    • In the negotiation, each side's counterthreats only escalated the tension.
    • The two countries exchanged counterthreats of economic sanctions.
    • The manager's counterthreats of layoffs did not stop the workers from striking.
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