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. —Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026

Idaho lawmakers spent hours debating a surge in rodents menacing Boise-area gardens and kitchens and threatening agriculture and public health. —Karin Brulliard, Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2026

Every Rayan Cherki drive into the box, every Jeremy Doku shimmy and dart, every menacing moment of intent from Haaland brings about an instant raising of our heart rates. —Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026

Neither, Danielson maintains, was their choice to wear Guy Fawkes masks meant to be menacing. —Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026

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