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)

menaced, menacing

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)

menaced, menacing

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

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

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; -ia

Example Sentences

TAIPEI—When Beijing wants to intimidate its rivals, it has an extensive—and often menacing—playbook to draw from.

From The Wall Street Journal

I grabbed it and leaped, landing squarely on the moving train as it rolled down the tracks bound for Washington and left the menacing city of Baltimore behind.

From Literature

Aside from the ongoing menace of nuclear annihilation, the biggest threat we’ve faced as a country was 9/11 when the country’s mainland was attacked by al-Qaeda.

From Salon

In this menacing climate anything approaching a free vote is unimaginable.

From BBC

They could also become a real menace on the streets, where heavy, powerful EVs are already wreaking havoc with highway guardrails and other safety features.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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