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
Benjamin GenocchioRansomware 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
Roger WilliamsThe image is chilling: a series of menacing bear traps laid out like footsteps.—Emily DeNitto
Emily DeNitto
menacingly
adverb
A man stepped menacingly from the corner brandishing a long pole …
—Elizabeth George Speare
Elizabeth George Speare
"If you shout his name I will curse you into oblivion," muttered Tonks menacingly …
—J. K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling
Examples of menacing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The creative solution quickly went viral for its red LED eyes and menacing fangs—as well as its admittedly odd, furry pipe frame.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 May 2026
This week’s rain can help crews tame a couple of wildfires that were menacing parts of South Miami-Dade and West Broward.
—Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
We are left to assume this is a drug cartel making its menacing presence felt.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
The new laws also establish categories for animals that pose threats to others, including dangerous animals, potentially dangerous animals and menacing animals.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for menacing
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Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 May 2026
This week’s rain can help crews tame a couple of wildfires that were menacing parts of South Miami-Dade and West Broward.
—Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
We are left to assume this is a drug cartel making its menacing presence felt.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
The new laws also establish categories for animals that pose threats to others, including dangerous animals, potentially dangerous animals and menacing animals.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for menacing
Cite this Entry
“Menacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menacing. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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