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

If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 17 May 2025

The movie itself is something of a trip; everything feels coated in a faint, menacing sheen of unreality, as if a slasher movie were just a wild twist or two away. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 16 May 2025

Death emerged from the world around these characters, seemingly wielded by a menacing unseen force. —Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025

Assistant District Attorney Timothy Collins said the boy has a record, having previously been charged in Family Court with assault and menacing with a weapon. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 15 May 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