menacing

adjective

men·​ac·​ing ˈme-nə-siŋ 

: 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

Even though Sutton had more success against Mitchell than any receiver has this season, Payton liked the speedy Franklin in tight space along the goal line against a corner who simply doesn’t have Mitchell’s menacing reach or closing speed. —Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025

If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025

However, Swift’s version adopts a more menacing tone, amplifying themes of manipulation, profit and loyalty in the context of the music industry. —Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025

As part of a plea agreement, prosecution was deferred on an additional charge for menacing so long as White commits no new violations over the next two years and satisfies a number of conditions, including issuing a public apology to the victim, Adam Weatherford. —Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 2025

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