menace

[men-is]

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.

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

/ ˈmɛnɪs /

verb

1. to threaten with violence, danger, etc

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of menace¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of menace¹

C13: ultimately related to Latin minax threatening, from mināri to threaten

Example Sentences

He is a delight to watch - even just the sight of him strolling the corridors with his hood up trying to look menacing makes you laugh.

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"It's insane that the smell of cannabis alone, or somebody wearing a menacing mask alone, does not generally allow, legally, a stop and search," he said.

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Reform is not just an electoral menace to the Conservatives, but an existential one.

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The Southern Californian wrote that the previous night several Israeli naval ships had “menaced” the convoy of some 40 boats.

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The cornerstones of Booker’s game will now be doing traditional big-man things and using the speed that could make him a menace in the lob game and on the fast break.

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Related Words

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