menacing

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Making you feel that danger or harm is likely; threatening.

   Grammar: Used before a noun (a menacing look) or after linking verbs (the sky looked menacing).

   Patterns

   • a menacing look
   • a menacing tone
   • look menacing

   The dog gave a menacing growl when the stranger approached.

   Dark, menacing clouds gathered over the mountains.

   He spoke in a low, menacing voice that made everyone uneasy.

2. 2adjectivenot comparable

   Suggesting something bad or harmful is about to happen; ominous.

   Grammar: Often describes situations or atmospheres rather than people.

   Patterns

   • a menacing silence
   • a menacing atmosphere
   • a menacing presence

   A menacing silence fell over the room after the announcement.

   The abandoned house had a menacing atmosphere that frightened the children.

   There was something menacing about the way the meeting ended.

Common combinations

menacing look

She shot him a menacing look across the table.

menacing growl

The bear let out a menacing growl.

menacing tone

His menacing tone warned her not to argue.

menacing figure

A menacing figure stood at the end of the alley.

Synonyms and how they differ

threatening

Very similar, but often suggests a direct promise to harm, while menacing can be a general feeling of danger.

ominous

Focuses on a sign that something bad will happen, not necessarily a person or animal.

intimidating

Describes something that makes you feel afraid or less confident, often because of size or power.

Opposites

Word family

menace noun

A person or thing that is dangerous or causes trouble.

menace verb

To threaten someone or something.

menacingly adverb

In a way that seems threatening.

Commonly confused: menacing or mendacious?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “menacing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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