as in threat
something that may cause injury or harm
a loaded gun is a menace that this household doesn't need
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to endanger
to place in danger
menaced the children by leaving them in the car unattended
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to threaten
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on
stockpiles of nuclear weapons that continue to menace the inhabitants of this planet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of menace
Marisa Walker, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Allegedly Hitchcock’s personal favorite among his own films, and his first set in an everyday American small town, Shadow of a Doubt subverts the idealized wartime image of the U.S. with a grinning menace.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 July 2025
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
The August 2024 blaze forced some people to flee as the flames menaced their homes, witnesses told this news organization.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for menace
Noun
Their formerly social puppy became a menace on the trails, usually between 6 and 18 months.
—Marisa Walker, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Allegedly Hitchcock’s personal favorite among his own films, and his first set in an everyday American small town, Shadow of a Doubt subverts the idealized wartime image of the U.S. with a grinning menace.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 July 2025
Verb
And that burgeoning population, menaced by poverty and the police, felt the city’s malignance.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
The August 2024 blaze forced some people to flee as the flames menaced their homes, witnesses told this news organization.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for menace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for menace
Noun
-
On Thursday, Seattle Mariners pitcher Tayler Saucedo shared an alarming threat aimed at him and his girlfriend.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Each of the tropical waves are moving west and do not pose a threat at this time.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The wood stork was once endangered with only 5,000 nesting pairs in the United States in the 1970s, but as of 2023 that had grown to more than 11,000 nesting pairs, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Filed in 2023, the lawsuit comes from a group of Tennessee women who say their lives were endangered after they were denied emergency abortions under the state’s ban.—
Kelly Puente,
Nashville Tennessean,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The record-setting donation comes as the Trump administration has frozen or threatened to pull funding from prestigious universities around the U.S. over antisemitism allegations and opposition to the universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Over the past year, small-scale protests have occasionally taken place outside Villa Park and fans have threatened to hold walkouts during games.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The real danger is the undermining of one of the last great advantages the United States had over many of its competitors: policy stability.—
Andrew Leahey,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Federal scientists say climate change is causing the glacier to melt faster, along with altering rainfall patterns, exacerbating the danger.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
While many of their supporters want the files released, a public disclosure also risks revealing potentially embarrassing information about how the Epstein investigation was handled and President Trump’s friendship with the late financer.—
Emily Goodin,
Miami Herald,
23 Aug. 2025
-
By ousting the Defense Intelligence Agency's director after his agency produced an assessment that contradicted the White House narrative on Iran, the administration risks silencing independent analysis at a moment of high geopolitical tension.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Menace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/menace. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share