menace

American  

[men-is] / ˈmɛn ɪs /

noun

1. something that threatens to cause evil, harm, injury, etc.; a threat.

   Air pollution is a menace to health.

2. a person whose actions, attitudes, or ideas are considered dangerous or harmful.

   When he gets behind the wheel of a car, he's a real menace.

3. an extremely annoying person.

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verb (used with object)

menaces, present (3rd person singular) menaced, past participle, past menacing present participle

1. to utter or direct a threat against; threaten.

2. to serve as a probable threat to; imperil.

   overdevelopment that menaces our suburbs.

verb (used without object)

menaces, present (3rd person singular) menaced, past participle, past menacing present participle

1. to express or serve as a threat.

menace British  

/ ˈmɛnɪs /

verb

1. to threaten with violence, danger, etc

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noun

1. literary a threat or the act of threatening

2. something menacing; a source of danger

3. informal a nuisance

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• premenace
  noun
• menacer
  noun
• menacing
  adjective
• menacingly
  adverb
• unmenaced
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have menaced
  perfect
• has menaced
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is menacing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been menacing
  perfect progressive
• am menacing
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been menacing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are menacing
  progressive
• menacing
  participle
• menaces
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had menaced
  perfect
• was menacing
  progressive singular
• were menacing
  progressive plural
• had been menacing
  perfect progressive
• menaced
  participle
• menaced
  simple

Future

• will menace
  simple
• will have menaced
  perfect
• will have been menacing
  perfect progressive
• will be menacing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of menace

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English manace, manance, from Middle French manace, menace, from Late Latin minācia “threat,” equivalent to mināc- (stem of mināx ) “jutting out, threatening” + -ia; verb from noun; see -ia

Explanation

If it's threatening you or otherwise posing some sort of danger, then it's a menace. Angry rabid dogs, smog clouds, and annoying little brothers are all probable menaces. The word menace works as both a noun and a verb, but it wasn't used to describe threatening or bothersome people until 1936. Before then, common menaces probably included things like the plague, locusts, and roving bands of pirate ships. Today, a bad reputation can menace an otherwise promising career, weeds can menace your garden, and burglars are a menace to society.

Example Sentences

Bassist and singer Geddy Lee, his voice eerily well-preserved for a 72-year-old, rode the contours of these numbers with electrifying menace and character, justifying all the risks inherent in this reunion tour.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

"There's some menace, there's this animal component in Max Cady that has always been there, that is so physical," Bardem told journalists ahead of the June 5 series' release on Apple TV.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

Charlie Hunnam, “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” “Richard Gadd’s toxic menace in ‘Half Men,’ a world removed from his ‘Baby Reindeer’ breakthrough, could propel him back to the winner’s circle.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

Claudio Braga, who had looked like he was trying to trap a balloon earlier on, was now running with more menace and purpose.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

It rears on its hind legs: a towering menace, unimaginably huge.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• endanger
• imperil
• intimidate
• jeopardize
• terrorize
• threaten