Crossword Genius

Broken heater with bad dent posed a danger (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

threatened

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'broken' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'heater with bad dent posed a danger' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'heater' is 'hreate' which is located in the answer.
an anagram of 'dent' is 'tned' which is located in the left over letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for threatened that I've seen before include "Facing danger" , "was imminent" , "Put at risk, endangered" , "potentially facing extinction" , "browbeaten" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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