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

Examples of menacing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Herbert was sacked six times in the first half, including three by the Browns’ menacing Myles Garrett. —Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 4 Nov. 2024

The menacing slugger Giancarlo Stanton was retired on a single pitch. —Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024

There is a monochrome, pencil-sketch animation of soldiers menacing children in wartime, showing that the artist is not afraid of introducing a momentarily disturbing visual, amid the overall placidity. —Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Oct. 2024

With his guitar held high and against his chest, his eyebrows cocked in that way that could be quizzical or menacing depending upon the setting, Matthews unleashed his quirky vocals. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English manacyng, from present participle of manacen "to menace entry 2"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above