Advertisement

View synonyms for

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

/ ˈɛɪ /

verb

  1. to threaten with violence, danger, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. literary.
    a threat or the act of threatening
  2. something menacing; a source of danger
  3. informal.
    a nuisance
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈԲԲ, adjective
  • ˈԲԲly, adverb
  • ˈԲ, noun
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • a· noun
  • ·a noun verb (used with object) premenaced premenacing
  • ܲ·a adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of menace1

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of menace1

C13: ultimately related to Latin minax threatening, from to threaten
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

They are down 1-0 in the best-of-seven series because Russell Westbrook was as a menace against his former team and supplied the Nuggets with the energy and big plays they needed to get the win.

From

Francis watched his cousin with growing horror: “He reminds me of my brother and then slowly turns into him ... he is the Other, and his face takes on a menacing symmetry.”

From

Bradley's ability to cover ground up and down the right flank makes him a menace to handle.

From

The sophistication is there in its style and confidence, in how it lays out this story with the clean, cruel menace of a poker dealer who has planned out exactly how the house will win.

From

It was during an era when western governments generated fear of the spread of communism, so visitors from outer space were more often than not portrayed as menaces, bringing peril rather than hope.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


menmenacing