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

Indeed, the nuns in this orphanage aren’t exactly warm and fuzzy, looking so menacing that horror appears to be their vocation. —Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024

China grows more menacing in the Pacific, as North Korea drives its missile and nuclear programs forward. —Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2024

While some spiders in the Corinnidae, Thomisidae, and Zodariidae families also mimic ants, other spiders imitate wasps, beetles, and flies — an indication that there are plenty of menacing critters out there, even if spiders aren’t one of them. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024

He was later arrested and booked into the Butler County Jail, per police, and charged with two counts of telecommunications harassment and one count of menacing. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024

For them, graffiti is a synonym for defacement and vandalism — and gangs marking out turf and messaging their enemies with menacing scribbles. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024

Larger, more menacing military actions are possible, especially after Mr. Lai’s inauguration. —Amy Chang Chien, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024

The men carried guns and wore army uniforms to appear more menacing, Samamreh said, and destroyed the family’s water supply. —Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024

Colin Farrell delivers a menacing monologue about a gangster from his youth in the new teaser for The Penguin, the upcoming show centered around the famous Batman villain. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024

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