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
If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 17 May 2025
The movie itself is something of a trip; everything feels coated in a faint, menacing sheen of unreality, as if a slasher movie were just a wild twist or two away.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
Death emerged from the world around these characters, seemingly wielded by a menacing unseen force.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025
Assistant District Attorney Timothy Collins said the boy has a record, having previously been charged in Family Court with assault and menacing with a weapon.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for menacing
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Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 17 May 2025
The movie itself is something of a trip; everything feels coated in a faint, menacing sheen of unreality, as if a slasher movie were just a wild twist or two away.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
Death emerged from the world around these characters, seemingly wielded by a menacing unseen force.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025
Assistant District Attorney Timothy Collins said the boy has a record, having previously been charged in Family Court with assault and menacing with a weapon.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for menacing
Cite this Entry
“Menacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menacing. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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