menace 1 of 4

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

menace

2 of 4

verb (1)

1
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

menacing

3 of 4

adjective

1
2

menacing

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of menace

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
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
Adjective
Many parolees received menacing letters instructing them to self-deport or face prosecution, fines or deportation. Ara Torosian, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2025 Jeannot looked like someone who was going to be a problem for years to come as a menacing power forward with a scoring touch. Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 31 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for menace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for menace
Noun
  • Adding to the threat, because of the loss of wetlands and coastal erosion, New Orleans had lost some of its natural protection and the Gulf of Mexico was getting closer every year.
    Marisa Peñaloza, NPR, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Any threats to this funding will cause irrevocable damage to the national economy and to the entire State of Maryland.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2025
  • After it was announced that James would exercise his player option this past June, his agent and CEO of Klutch Sports Rich Paul gave a somewhat ominous quote regarding the future.
    Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Besides being a nuisance, mosquitoes can spread dangerous diseases.
    John Tufts, IndyStar, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Fuller was initially charged with first-degree reckless homicide, but agreed to plead no contest to second-degree reckless homicide with a use of a dangerous weapon modifier.
    Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 29 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
  • Advertisement Among the information leaked were personal details about David’s daughter Rebecca, then a teenager, including photographs, birth records, and daily routines, putting her in immediate danger.
    Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • For The Fin, his team worked to make the dim light extra grainy, giving it a particularly sinister quality.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
  • This turns out to be another name for Galactus, a surprisingly scary Marvel villain played with sinister sincerity by Ralph Ineson.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in reducing the risk of wildfires during these hazardous conditions.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, deploying National Guard troops and water rescue teams in anticipation of hazardous conditions.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Volunteers carried Mason down the trailhead and she was transported to a hospital by ambulance for non-life threatening but serious injuries, officials said.
    Paloma Chavez, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Rodgers said that Wong, during a psychological evaluation while in custody, denied having problems controlling his anger and said he’s never been verbally abusive, threatening or violent when angry.
    Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • These currents vary in speed and can swiftly become perilous for anyone venturing into the surf.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Menace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/menace. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on menace

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!