Synonyms

menacing

American

[men-i-sing] / ˈmɛn ɪ sɪŋ /

adjective

expressing or serving as a menace or threat: menacing language.

his menacing glare;
menacing language.

Related Words

See ominous.

Other Word Forms

menacingly adverb
nonmenacing adjective
unmenacing adjective

Etymology

Origin of menacing

First recorded in 1350–1400; menace ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Philip Harris-Genois, a 3D modeler at Rodeo FX, worked tirelessly for a year to perfect Demogorgon, the monster whose petaled face opens to reveal rows of menacing teeth.

From Barron's

He lowers his voice to a menacing whisper.

From Literature

We climb to the main deck and look out at the sea, where choppy waves rise up, menacing as swords.

From Literature

“No, I’m picturing hundreds of your hideous mug menacing the entire world,” Door said.

From Literature

It was far from the mildly menacing tone of his social media posts claiming that Greenland will be America's.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023