menacing

adjective

men·​ac·​ing ˈme-nə-siŋ How to pronounce menacing (audio)
: presenting, suggesting, or constituting a menace or threat : threatening
a menacing look
menacing words
[Harold E. Edgerton] … was also one of the first to take photographs of the menacing mushroom cloud emanating from a nuclear blast.Benjamin Genocchio
Ransomware is a menacing scam that involves locking businesses out of their computers and demanding payment of a ransom in exchange for the return of company systems and data.Roger Williams
The image is chilling: a series of menacing bear traps laid out like footsteps.Emily DeNitto
menacingly adverb
A man stepped menacingly from the corner brandishing a long pole … Elizabeth George Speare
"If you shout his name I will curse you into oblivion," muttered Tonks menacingly J. K. Rowling

Examples of menacing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Players were whisked away in a hot rod to a pyro-heavy concert stage before moving on to a gothic bell tower and a fight with a menacing puppet master. Andrew Webster, The Verge, 29 June 2024 Meanwhile, Agnes and Edith attend a karate program run by a menacing instructor (Brad Ableson). Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 June 2024 Universal Orlando will unveil 10 all-new movie-quality haunted houses, five scare zones filled with hundreds of menacing creatures, plus a live show. Tom Tapp, Deadline, 27 June 2024 The Acolyte creator reacts to 'powerful, menacing' cliffhanger And the installment also included the first extended interaction between twins Mae and Osha, who came face to face near the end of the episode. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 26 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for menacing 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'menacing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English manacyng, from present participle of manacen "to menace entry 2"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of menacing was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near menacing

Cite this Entry

“Menacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menacing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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