English Dictionary | Thesaurus | Translator | COBUILD Grammar Patterns | Scrabble | Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
| Sign Up | Log In
 
English
Menu
English Dictionary Thesaurus Translator Grammar Scrabble Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
Sign Up Log In

Definition of 'menace'

Word Frequency

menace

(menɪs )
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense menaces , present participle menacing , past tense, past participle menaced
1. countable noun [usually singular]
If you say that someone or something is a menace to other people or things, you mean that person or thing is likely to cause serious harm.
In my view you are a menace to the public. [+ to]
...the menace of fascism. [+ of]
Excessive drinking is a social menace.
Synonyms: danger, risk, threat, hazard   More Synonyms of menace
2. countable noun [usually singular]
You can refer to someone or something as a menace when you want to say that they cause you trouble or annoyance.
[informal]
You're a menace to my privacy, Kenworthy. [+ to]
As I have said earlier in this book, bad shoes are a menace.
3. uncountable noun
Menace is a quality or atmosphere that gives you the feeling that you are in danger or that someone wants to harm you.
There is a pervading sense of menace.
...a voice full of menace.
Synonyms: threat, warning, intimidation, ill-omen   More Synonyms of menace
4. verb
If you say that one thing menaces another, you mean that the first thing is likely to cause the second thing serious harm.
The European states retained a latent capability to menace Britain's own security. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: threaten, jeopardize, put at risk, loom over   More Synonyms of menace
5. verb
If you are menaced by someone, they threaten to harm you.
She's being menaced by her sister's latest boyfriend. [be VERB-ed]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: bully, threaten, intimidate, terrorize   More Synonyms of menace
6. 
with menaces
More Synonyms of menace
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of 'menace'

Word Frequency

menace in British

(ˈmɛnɪs )
verb
1. 
to threaten with violence, danger, etc
noun
2. literary
a threat or the act of threatening
3. 
something menacing; a source of danger
4. informal
a nuisance
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
menacer (ˈmenacer)
  noun
menacing (ˈmenacing)
  adjective
menacingly (ˈmenacingly)
  adverb
Word origin of 'menace'
C13: ultimately related to Latin minax threatening, from mināri to threaten
Word Frequency

menace in American

(ˈmɛnəs ; menˈəs)
noun
1. 
a threat or the act of threatening
2. 
anything threatening harm or evil
3.  Informal
a person who is a nuisance
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈmenaced or ˈmenacing
4. 
to threaten or be a danger (to)
SIMILAR WORDS:  ˈthreaten
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
menacingly (ˈmenacingly)
  adverb
Word origin of 'menace'
OFr < L minacia < minax (gen. minacis), projecting, threatening < minari, to threaten < minae, threats, orig. projecting points of walls < IE base *men-, to project > Cornish meneth, mountain

Example sentences containing 'menace'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
By the time he looked back, Costa had turned the moment into something truly menacing. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The bunkers are so well placed and pose real menace. Times, Sunday Times (2014)The rottweiler has earned a fearsome reputation as extremely loyal and as a menacing guard dog. Times, Sunday Times (2007)These unusual clouds also signal something quite menacing. Times, Sunday Times (2010)It will become a menace to society. Times, Sunday Times (2013) Real menace at times with powerful bursts. The Sun (2009)The actor who made his name exuding menace and danger finds far more than that in the role. Times, Sunday Times (2010)Was a constant menace in midfield. The Sun (2010)The setting for detective stories was crucial to the atmosphere of menace and suspense, she said. Times, Sunday Times (2014)The menace of uninsured drivers also warrants a new law, according to you. Times, Sunday Times (2006)On stage, her menacing voice competes with pounding drums and distorted guitars. Times, Sunday Times (2012)Is this a tent, a house or a public menace? Times, Sunday Times (2011)But his movement was a constant menace to Leeds. The Sun (2015)If he is to become a serious menace, he may have to refine his yorker. Times, Sunday Times (2007)They also want to enjoy their prosperity without fear of robbery, violence and the menace of drugs. Times, Sunday Times (2016)One paying guest said: 'The atmosphere is menacing. The Sun (2016)It was doing, instead, something far more menacing. Times, Sunday Times (2012)You could smell him in the stalls - and the stench was of malice, menace and danger. Times, Sunday Times (2010) Crime is a menace. Times, Sunday Times (2012)I've seldom heard one with less menace, less of the demonic in it. Times, Sunday Times (2009)

Trends of 'menace'

In Common Usage. menace is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Translations for 'menace'

British English: menace NOUN
If you say that someone or something is a menace to other people or things, you mean that person or thing is likely to cause serious harm.
In my view you are a menace to the public.
  • American English: menace
  • Brazilian Portuguese: ameaça
  • Chinese: 威胁
  • European Spanish: amenaza
  • French: menace
  • German: Bedrohung
  • Italian: minaccia
  • Japanese: 脅威
  • Korean: 위협적인 존재
  • European Portuguese: ameaça
  • Spanish: amenaza
British English: menace VERB
If you say that one thing menaces another, you mean that the first thing is likely to cause the second thing serious harm.
The states retained a latent capability to menace the country's own security.
  • American English: menace
  • Brazilian Portuguese: ameaçar
  • Chinese: 威胁
  • European Spanish: amenazar
  • French: menacer
  • German: bedrohen
  • Italian: minacciare
  • Japanese: 脅かす
  • Korean: 위협하다
  • European Portuguese: ameaçar
  • Spanish: amenazar

Translate your text for free

Nearby words of 'menace'

  • men's room
  • men-at-arms
  • men-of-war
  • menace
  • menacing
  • menad
  • menadione

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'M'

Source

Definition of menace from the Collins English Dictionary

Form of adverbs

Most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to the end of the related adjective. slow slowly clever cleverly annual annually Exceptionally, words which end in -ble drop off the -e before -ly is ...
Read more about 'Form of adverbs'
Word of the day:
Gaia
the goddess of the earth, who bore Uranus and by him Oceanus , Cronus , and the Titans
See full definition
Apr 22, 2018
Fed up with the great British weather? Here’s how to afford that dream summer escape
From planning early to knowing where to look, these top tips will help you fulfil your summer holiday desires
Read more
The etymology behind 4 eggs-ellent Springtime words
We’ve explored the diverse etymology of 4 eggs-ellent words associated with spring.
Read more
Up Lit, Alexa Laugh & Meet Me at McDonald’s Hair: March’s Words In The News
Catch up on the latest words in the news this March with Robert Groves.
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Scrabble score for 'menace': 10
Latest Word Submissions
Barrecore Apr 18, 2018
wido Apr 18, 2018
centimorgan Apr 17, 2018
gender expansive Apr 16, 2018
Carthritis Apr 15, 2018
Submit View More
Browse the English Dictionary
  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
View all dictionaries...
  • View more
  • API
  • B2B Partnerships
  • Advertising
  • Word Banks
  • Collins COBUILD
  • Collins ELT
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact us
  • Languages
  • English
  • Thesaurus
  • Grammar
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • Chinese
  • Portuguese
  • Hindi
  • Word Lists
  • Word of the Year
  • Scrabble
  • COBUILD Anniversary
© Collins 2018