noun
menace
MEH-nihs
noun
1
A serious threat or source of danger.
"The escaped tiger was a menace to the whole village."
2
An annoying or troublesome person, especially used affectionately for a mischievous child.
"That kid is a real menace at school."
verb
1
To threaten or intimidate someone; to endanger something.
"Dark storm clouds menaced the coastline."
How to Use Menace
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA threat or danger — or, more lightly, a troublesome or mischievous person.
Common pairings
a public menace
menace to society
menace someone
Word Forms
menaced past tense, menaces plural, menaces singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “menace”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The escaped tiger was a _____ to the whole village.
Etymology
From Old French menace, from Late Latin minācia ("threat"), from Latin mināx ("threatening").