hovering (over)

present participle of hover (over)
as in threatening
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on after the first big layoff, the possibility of losing their jobs hovered over all of the factory's workers

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hovering (over)
threatening
Verb
  • Severe droughts have also sucked the water from Europe’s major rivers, particularly the Seine, the Rhine and the Danube, threatening the continent’s energy supply.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Shortly after, Nash was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill her with a knife.
    Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
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“Hovering (over).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hovering%20%28over%29. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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