menacing

[ men-i-sing ]

adjective

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

   his menacing glare;

   menacing language.

Other Words From

• menac·ing·ly adverb
• non·menac·ing adjective
• un·menac·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of menacing¹

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

Synonym Study

See ominous.

Example Sentences

And speaking to reporters in Moscow, he pointedly referred back to a menacing statement by Putin in September.

From Los Angeles Times

“Noid” was dense and menacing, Tyler’s flow somewhere between a growl and a yowl; “Darling, I” was light and whimsical but almost painfully yearning too.

From Los Angeles Times

While he was as menacing as ever in his interview with BBC Sport, Tyson was breathing heavily throughout.

From BBC

They treated it all like some terrible board game when they should have been sounding the alarms and giving the most menacing threat in American history the editorial weight it deserved.

From Salon

She said he was menacing and angry, and he shouted at her that the path was for pedestrians only.

From BBC

Related Words

• alarming
• dangerous
• frightening
• threatening