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
Ransomware 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
The image is chilling: a series of menacing bear traps laid out like footsteps.—Emily DeNitto
menacingly
adverb
A man stepped menacingly from the corner brandishing a long pole …
—Elizabeth George Speare
"If you shout his name I will curse you into oblivion," muttered Tonks menacingly …
—J. K. Rowling
Cite this Entry
“Menacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menacing. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.
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