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
Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025
Mark Carey Wilson fails to spark in Isak’s absence
At his best, Callum Wilson is a proper No 9; a physical centre-forward who loves menacing defenders and loves scoring even more.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Penned by one of his generation's grand chroniclers of the dysfunctional family, Ian McEwan, The Good Son followed Elijah Wood's Mark, who after the death of his mother is sent to live with his aunt, uncle, and their menacing son Henry, played by Culkin, who SPOILER ALERT!
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Slimani is a hardened criminal made less menacing by Kateb’s faltering rhythms in English, the gang’s lingua franca.
—Ben Kenigsberg, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for menacing
Adjective
Unleashing Elon Musk and his DOGE cadres on the federal government, menacing Canada and European allies, and embracing Vladimir Putin’s wish list for Ukraine and beyond are not unrelated.
—Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025
Mark Carey Wilson fails to spark in Isak’s absence
At his best, Callum Wilson is a proper No 9; a physical centre-forward who loves menacing defenders and loves scoring even more.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Penned by one of his generation's grand chroniclers of the dysfunctional family, Ian McEwan, The Good Son followed Elijah Wood's Mark, who after the death of his mother is sent to live with his aunt, uncle, and their menacing son Henry, played by Culkin, who SPOILER ALERT!
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Slimani is a hardened criminal made less menacing by Kateb’s faltering rhythms in English, the gang’s lingua franca.
—Ben Kenigsberg, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for menacing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for menacing
Adjective
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But by reciting the proposal again and again, Trump might be setting in motion very real—and extremely ominous—consequences for the West Bank and the entire region.—
Hussein Ibish,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
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The historian Janis Mimura saw something more ominous: a new, proactive union of industry and governmental power, wherein the state would drive aggressive industrial policy at the expense of liberal norms.—
Kyle Chayka,
The New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Freezing temperatures can endanger health, particularly of vulnerable groups like children and the elderly, whilst snow can lead to dangerous driving conditions.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
1 Mar. 2025
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Listeria is particularly dangerous for elderly individuals, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 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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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
-
An extreme wind event is threatening one of Los Angeles’ toniest neighborhoods, igniting fires through Pacific Palisades.—
Kimberly Nordyke,
The Hollywood Reporter,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Deepfakes first attracted attention for its use in making fake celebrity pornographic films, but their uses have subsequently evolved to more sinister reasons.—
Rohan Pinto,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Columbia Pictures When Bobbie also suddenly transforms, Joanna discovers that her best friend has been replaced by a robot—along with all the other wives—and realizes the sinister forces at work in Stepford are coming for her next.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Orange County Register,
7 Mar. 2025
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The salad bar did not have time labels for potentially hazardous foods kept out of temperature control.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacramento Bee,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Top congressional Democrats on military, intelligence and foreign policy matters on Tuesday accused President Trump and Elon Musk of gravely undermining national security by aligning with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and dismantling the federal security work force at a perilous time.—
Carl Hulse,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2025
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Our ancestors crossed a vast ocean, strode into the unknown wilderness, and carve their fortunes from the rock and soil of a perilous and very dangerous frontier.—
TIME Staff,
TIME,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Traditionally, however, penny stocks are pretty risky.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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Forgoing a balanced diet or drastically cutting calories is risky.—
Helen Carefoot,
Verywell Health,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Menacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/menacing. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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