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)

, men·aced, men·ac·ing.

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)

, men·aced, men·ac·ing.

1. to express or serve as a threat.

menace

/ ˈmɛnɪs /

verb

1. to threaten with violence, danger, etc

noun

1. literary.
   a threat or the act of threatening
2. something menacing; a source of danger
3. informal.
   a nuisance

Derived Forms

• ˈmenacing, adjective
• ˈmenacingly, adverb
• ˈmenacer, noun

Other Words From

• menac·er noun
• pre·menace noun verb (used with object) premenaced premenacing
• un·menaced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of menace¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of menace¹

C13: ultimately related to Latin minax threatening, from mināri to threaten

Example Sentences

Harris’ speech treated Trump as a menace to American national security and global preeminence.

From Salon

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

A lot of Lu’s reference points — Deftones’ menace, Cocteau Twins’ elegance — date back to more than twice her age.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From BBC

Related Words

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