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, 28 July 2025

Petsch visited the annual celebration of all things fan culture to promote the The Strangers: Chapter 2, which picks up where Chapter 1 left off — with Petsch's Maya seemingly saved from the titular Strangers' demented attack, but with the menacing Scarecrow still hunting her down. —Ryan Coleman Updated, EW.com, 25 July 2025

Four more menacing messages were received by the Palestinian organization in the following days, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said in a July 22 news release. —Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 23 July 2025

Wayne Barnes was charged with kidnapping, criminal possession of a weapon and several counts of assault, while Jasmine Barnes has been charged with kidnapping, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of assault. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 23 July 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