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
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 menacing
Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025
In this delightfully absorbing novel, an isolated house in the middle of a menacing desert landscape serves as the backdrop of a reality-TV competition.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
All the while, a menacing gangster named Vince (Cranston) looms in the background, hunting Marius down for a debt that could cost him his life.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
That decision ultimately cost him the match, and when the bout was over, Orton’s menacing stare at Rhodes not-so-subtly hinted at a potential heel turn.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for menacing
Adjective
Thomas was arrested on July 15 and was charged with assault, acting in a manner injurious to a child, criminal possession of a weapon and menacing.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025
In this delightfully absorbing novel, an isolated house in the middle of a menacing desert landscape serves as the backdrop of a reality-TV competition.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
All the while, a menacing gangster named Vince (Cranston) looms in the background, hunting Marius down for a debt that could cost him his life.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
That decision ultimately cost him the match, and when the bout was over, Orton’s menacing stare at Rhodes not-so-subtly hinted at a potential heel turn.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for menacing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for menacing
Adjective
-
People in this state search for a story that explains why everything suddenly feels uncanny and ominous.—
Rachel Aviv,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
-
Some commentators labeled his speech unduly bellicose; others applauded his courage to define ominous realities.—
Robert Schmuhl,
Chicago Tribune,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
Here's what each means, according to the NWS: Heat advisory: A heat advisory is the lowest level and is issued for dangerous heat conditions that are not expected to reach the criteria for a more serious alert.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
24 July 2025
-
More dangerous heat waves The Great Lakes region warmed substantially faster in the six years since the last assessment than it did in decades prior, the report shows.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
Officers are rarely — if ever — punished for hitting or endangering bystanders.—
Shelby Grad,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Still others chase a motorbike onto the sidewalk, endangering nearby pedestrians.—
Eric Umansky,
ProPublica,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Richard curses again, threatening Blum.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2025
-
The Palisades fire has garnered headlines, but the Hurst and Eaton fires have also been threatening very populated areas.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
He’s replaced talk of sinister tech monopolies with embracing Big American Tech, largely refashioned as Big American AI.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
28 July 2025
-
Initially, it was suspected that Brewster had been hit by a car, but X-rays revealed a far more sinister truth: Brewster had been shot, leaving him with a severely fractured front leg.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 July 2025
Adjective
-
Despite receiving safety stamps of approval, the process for building the Las Vegas tunnels came under fire for worker safety violations and concerns, with the project being cited for numerous violations that included injuries and exposure to hazardous materials.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
31 July 2025
-
Grants will be given to projects that remove or reduce hazardous wood materials National Forest System Lands.—
Noël Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in mitigating the risk of wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 July 2025
-
A lot of those stars host shows of their own (more on Stewart in a moment), and while Colbert joked about his show's finances, late-night shows are in a perilous financial position — and CBS killing off Colbert's show gives other networks an opening to do the same.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) highlights how sleep deficiency, on the other hand, impairs these abilities and is linked to emotional issues, depression, and risky behaviors—especially in children and teens.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 July 2025
-
But through the sheer power of mixing genes into new combinations, the risky gamble of interspecies pairings has also sometimes majorly paid off.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Menacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/menacing. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share