1
: a show of intention to inflict harm : threat
exploding in menaces and threats of vengeance—
George Meredith
George Meredith2
a
: one that represents a threat : danger
the intoxicated motorist is a menace to life and limb—Wayne Hughes
Wayne Hughes
b
: an annoying person
her friends were beginning to find her a menace—Guy McCrone
Guy McCrone
menaced; menacing
1
: to make a show of intention to harm
menaced him with immediate expulsion—G. B. Shaw
G. B. Shaw2
: to represent or pose a threat to : endanger
menaced by a group of toughs after his car goes kaput—Leah Rozen
Leah Rozen
: to act in a threatening manner
The bear menaced with its mouth wide open.
Examples of menace in a Sentence
Noun
There was an atmosphere of menace in the city.
She could hear the menace in his voice.
Verb
menaced the children by leaving them in the car unattended
stockpiles of nuclear weapons that continue to menace the inhabitants of this planet
Recent Examples on the Web
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2025
That kid is a menace, and parents are on the hook financially for whatever their dumb kids do.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2025
The impostors then stole two hot dogs and menaced the vendor with a knife before taking off on Seventh Ave., heading toward 44th St.
Cops took one man into custody following the heist, and are looking for a second person dressed in a red hoodie, black pants and black and white sneakers.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for menace
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Noun
As champagne’s popularity had been growing, a minuscule menace was spreading through the vineyards of France.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2025
That kid is a menace, and parents are on the hook financially for whatever their dumb kids do.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
As Montgomery’s troops menaced Montreal, Carleton abandoned his seat of governance at the Chateau Ramezay and gave up the city without a fight.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2025
The impostors then stole two hot dogs and menaced the vendor with a knife before taking off on Seventh Ave., heading toward 44th St.
Cops took one man into custody following the heist, and are looking for a second person dressed in a red hoodie, black pants and black and white sneakers.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for menace
Cite this Entry
“Menace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menace. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
menace
1 of 2 noun
men·ace
ˈme-nəs 
1
: a show of an intention to inflict especially physical harm
accomplished against a person's will by means of force,…menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury—California Penal Code
California Penal Code2
: one who represents a threat
menace
2 of 2 verb
menaced; menacing
: to act in a threatening manner
menacingly
adverb
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