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
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of menace
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Nicole Kidman adds just the right amount of menace as a villainous taxidermist, but the heart of the movie lies in its celebration of kindness, decency and family—values that feel refreshingly radical in our cynical times.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 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
Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Duffy gets a distinctive dark clown out of each of them, menacing or masochistic as the case may be.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for menace
Noun
That goal was deserved, because Mešár was all over the puck Sunday, forcing turnovers on the forecheck and generally being a menace.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Nicole Kidman adds just the right amount of menace as a villainous taxidermist, but the heart of the movie lies in its celebration of kindness, decency and family—values that feel refreshingly radical in our cynical times.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 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
Adjective
Stevi Creech, 21, is charged with felonious assault, and Gerrin Rankin, 26, is charged with menacing, according to court records.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Duffy gets a distinctive dark clown out of each of them, menacing or masochistic as the case may be.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for menace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for menace
Noun
-
In 2021, Discord helped thwart an attack on an Ohio synagogue after reporting threats by the would-be assailant to law enforcement.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Last year demonstrated that late September and early October can be an active period for tropical development, with multiple threats that may be high-impact and potentially devastating.—
Daniel Peck,
ABC News,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 Sep. 2025
-
As the ominous clip made its way across social media platforms, many users on TikTok shared various reactions to the religious message.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Google is now forcing AI summaries at the top of web searches, which reduce traffic to websites and often provide dangerous misinformation.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 Sep. 2025
-
The oversimplification of a complex developmental difference that exists on a spectrum of many different abilities and experiences is dehumanizing at best and dangerous at its worst, autism experts, advocacy groups and members of the community told USA TODAY.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Authorities said there was no further danger to the public.—
Jack Moore,
ABC News,
21 Sep. 2025
-
The scene is still an active investigation, but there is no further danger to the public.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Football season has arrived, and so has a new horror movie produced by Jordan Peele that delves into the sinister side of the game.—
Neda Ulaby,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Amelia Gray Hamlin Amelia Gray Hamlin partnered her black lace get-up with a sinister makeup look involving misty gray shadow.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
For a while, walking the dog felt hazardous.—
Paula Span,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The surf will create hazardous rip currents.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In August, Fox and Google went back and forth, with the former threatening to pull its channels.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Officers rendered aid to the victim who was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These currents vary in speed and can swiftly become perilous for anyone venturing into the surf.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Sep. 2025
-
What was trendy yesterday is now perilous, or potentially so.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Menace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/menace. Accessed 27 Sep. 2025.
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