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

The menacing maestro of pop, the Lucifer of the loop pedal, the acoustic animal himself made a surprise appearance at 50 Cent’s show in London Tuesday night, Nov. 21. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2023

Hosted by Wale, Jey, and Jimmy savored the opportunity of skewering the New Day with their menacing bars. —Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2023

The house is stuffed with ridiculous relics and over-the-top finery; the grounds offer welcoming expanses of nature and a menacing labyrinth of high bushes. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2023

Stephen Clark/Ars Technica The menacing structure towering over the coastal mud flats seemed to come alive, letting out creaks and groans as the two holding arms slowly descended rails running up and down the launch pad's support tower. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 16 Nov. 2023

Advertisement Although Beverly is his boss, Michael assumes a menacing power. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023

Here, the sky tussles with menacing clouds, and Diego Gaeta’s keys emit a Stevie-esque sensibility. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 14 Nov. 2023

The Chinese government used its trade winnings to expand its military capabilities, while menacing neighbors like the Philippines. —Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023

The effect is theatrically menacing yet fundamentally amiable, like a version of D.O.A. directed by Chris Van Allsburg. —Susan Tallman, The New York Review of Books, 2 Nov. 2023

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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