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

Wherever she is deployed, she will be a constant menace to a backline that has been decimated by injury.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

It is especially a menace to anyone invested in securities such as longer-term Treasury bonds, which are “safe” in name only.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026

Long before apps like Alarmy, makers of alarm clocks recognized that some of their products needed a tinge of menace.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Usually at Sundance, the weather is a menace.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

But there was a grim menace out here, not only in the master’s manner but in the desolation of our surroundings.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

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