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
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Recent Examples of menacing
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Jan. 2025
That inter-zone between the two is where Lynch lived his entire professional life: in his paintings and writings, shorts and TV shows, and even his daily online weather reports, which somehow took on both a boyish and a menacing quality.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025
Onlookers captured them interacting and throwing paper planes at one another, all under the watchful eye of the Tillman’s menacing Milchick.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2025
The first of them holds all of the story’s promise, as a tense prologue introduces us to a pre-teen kid named Blake, whose military-like father (Sam Jaeger, all menacing toxic machismo) is hell-bent upon teaching his son how to survive the world on his own.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for menacing 
Adjective
Serpa-Acosta was previously wanted on an active felony warrant for first-degree burglary and menacing with a deadly weapon, police said.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Jan. 2025
That inter-zone between the two is where Lynch lived his entire professional life: in his paintings and writings, shorts and TV shows, and even his daily online weather reports, which somehow took on both a boyish and a menacing quality.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025
Onlookers captured them interacting and throwing paper planes at one another, all under the watchful eye of the Tillman’s menacing Milchick.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2025
The first of them holds all of the story’s promise, as a tense prologue introduces us to a pre-teen kid named Blake, whose military-like father (Sam Jaeger, all menacing toxic machismo) is hell-bent upon teaching his son how to survive the world on his own.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for menacing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for menacing
Adjective
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Listen to this article A student in North Haven was arrested Monday after allegedly sending a photo of a firearm to a group chat with other students which was accompanied by an ominous message advising them not to go to school.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
28 Jan. 2025
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Zhu, working with cinematographer Daisy Zhou, stages these scenes with hints of horror; the intimate vantage points are particularly ominous against Eli Keszler’s haunting score.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This feeds into Newcastle’s 2-0 advantage which, as another cliche tells us, is the most dangerous lead in football.—
George Caulkin,
The Athletic,
5 Feb. 2025
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This amount can weigh down trees and power lines — causing power outages — and make travel dangerous to borderline impossible.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Wilson, 46, is charged with murder, manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child for the explosion of violence inside the victim’s apartment on Macombs Road near Inwood Ave.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
21 Dec. 2024
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Cloe Workman, 20, is charged in Hamilton County Municipal Court with misdemeanor child endangering and domestic violence.—
Cameron Knight,
The Enquirer,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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By late afternoon, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said the Pacific Palisades fire had grown to 1,200 acres — threatening over 10,000 households and 13,000 structures.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA TODAY,
8 Jan. 2025
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Extremely dangerous wildfires are threatening Southern California, including Los Angeles and Ventura counties.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Director Josh Ruben, along with screenwriters Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon and Michael Kennedy, craftily concocts a sweetly sinister genre mashup, blending romantic comedy tropes with slasher movie fodder.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2025
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The typically magnetic Ramírez looms large, delivering a masterful turn as a well-heeled but enigmatically sinister figure who may or may not have his client’s best interest at heart.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Past Incidents in the last 12 hours: Heavy rain prompts traffic warning on eastbound K-10 in Olathe A traffic advisory has been issued for hazardous driving conditions attributed to heavy rain on K-10 from South Woodland Street to Ridgeview Road.—
Kansas City Star Bot,
Kansas City Star,
31 Jan. 2025
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Very strong winds will create hazardous conditions with blowing and drifting snow.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th-century piece that is more than 200 feet wide, has had a perilous history since its creation.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2025
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For the rest of us, though, certainty is unavailable, and we’re left to ponder which perilous force—nuclear, climatic, or biological—will get us first.—
Arthur Krystal,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This procedure can be less risky than using implants, the clinic adds.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
31 Jan. 2025
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This has created a climate where challenging him feels politically risky, leaving many of our local leaders — our heroes — silent, complicit or too fearful to act.—
Esteban Rodriguez,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near menacing
Cite this Entry
“Menacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/menacing. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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