Word
menace
Phoneticsmen·ace, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɛnəs/
UK/mˈɛnɪs/
Definitions
01a danger or threat
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. someone or something that is dangerous or likely to cause serious harm.
n. a person or thing that is likely to cause harm; a threat or danger.
“The loose rocks on the cliff side are a constant menace to hikers.”
“The rapid spread of the invasive species poses a significant menace to the local ecosystem's delicate balance.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'to'.
Antonyms
02a nuisance
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a person, especially a child, who is very annoying or causes trouble.
n. a person or thing that is annoying, bothersome, or a persistent nuisance.
“My little brother is a total menace when he hasn't had a nap.”
“The stray cats in the neighbourhood have become something of a menace, waking residents with their fighting at night.”
Teaching tip
In this informal sense, it is often used with a lighthearted or slightly frustrated tone rather than a sense of real danger.
03to threaten
C1 · Advanced Literary · Formal
v. to threaten someone or make them feel like they are in danger.
v. to threaten or intimidate someone; to pose a threat to something.
“The tall, dark clouds menaced the small village as the storm approached.”
“The dictator's secret police continued to menace the local population, stifling any attempts at peaceful protest.”
Usage
This verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“BBC Punjabi's Arvind Chhabra investigates why the drug menace has become worse in the state.” Etymology
From Middle English manace, from Old French manace, menace, &c., from Late Latin minācia (“threat, menace”), from Latin mināx (“threatening”) + -ia (suffix forming abstract nouns).
First attested in 1303: from Middle English manacen, from Old French menacer, manecier, manechier and Anglo-Norman manasser, from the assumed Vulgar Latin *mināciāre, from Latin minācia, whence the noun.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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