1
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
warns that the emergence of new viruses is one of the most menacing developments we face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury
fears that the unemployment rate may be reaching menacing proportions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in endangering
to place in danger
menaced the children by leaving them in the car unattended
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in threatening
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
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Recent Examples of menacing
Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
As the two catch up, Crudup veers from good-natured to sorrowful to bitter to menacing in a matter of minutes.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for menacing
Adjective
The beasts were, ostensibly, running a menacing communications conglomerate in a satellite tower looking over the main field of Coachella, but now they were spooked.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Some argue that the only way to stop Iran from menacing the region and its people is to crush this regime.
—Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
As the two catch up, Crudup veers from good-natured to sorrowful to bitter to menacing in a matter of minutes.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for menacing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for menacing
Adjective
-
The biggest difference between Mythos and previous AI models was its ability to autonomously exploit vulnerabilities, an ominous new facet of the industry’s transition towards agentic models.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The team of astronomers credited for Apophis' discovery – David Tholen, Fabrizio Bernardi and the late Roy Tucker – were also responsible for coming up with the asteroid's ominous name.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Police on Friday closed Kensington Gardens, a central London park visited by thousands of tourists and local residents every day, after a group that Israel has linked to Iran posted a video claiming Israel’s nearby London embassy was going to be attacked with drones carrying dangerous substances.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Portage police added that while some students play the game safely using brightly colored water guns, others have created dangerous situations that can trigger panic.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Robinson was charged and pleaded no contest to felony endangering the welfare of children in March 2023.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Additional charges included negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for a Jurupa Valley neighborhood on Wednesday after a brushfire broke out nearby, threatening multiple homes as flames were fueled by strong gusts of wind.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Nichols is charged with one count each of felony assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, threatening crime with intent to terrorize and vandalism, according to court documents.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Needless to say, something very sinister and deadly lies at the end of their path.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The author, known for sinister tales like The Whistler and Sisters of the Lost Nation, has built a reputation for reinventing classic horror tropes by weaving in Native American folklore and stories passed down from his grandmother, an elder of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Photos shared by the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office showed the hazardous road conditions as well as the aftermath of the collisions.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Most hazardous leaks are caused by third-party digging.—
Lexi Salazar,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The bloc doesn’t have a mechanism to expel a wayward member, but Western diplomats told me that brazen electoral theft would inaugurate a perilous new era.—
Isaac Stanley-Becker,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Four astronauts are preparing for a perilous return through Earth's atmosphere to make a splashdown near California and put the finishing touches on a moon-circling mission that will etch their names in history.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
With her family history of breast cancer, using a chatbot for health advice feels too risky.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Spiegel asked to speak to Mengele and alert him of what was happening — a risky decision that saved the boys from death.—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Menacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/menacing. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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