Word
menacing
Phoneticsmen·ac·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɛnəsɪŋ/
UK/mˈɛnɪsɪŋ/
Definition
adj. suggesting that something bad or dangerous is going to happen. You use this to describe a person, look, or sound that makes you feel unsafe.
adj. suggesting the presence of danger; threatening or portending evil. Often used to describe physical presence, facial expressions, or atmospheric conditions.
Examples
“The dark clouds look menacing in the distance.”
“The stranger gave him a menacing look that made him want to leave the room immediately.”
“The soundtrack shifted from a light melody to a low, menacing drone, signaling to the audience that the protagonist was no longer alone in the forest.”
Examples
simple
“The dark clouds look menacing in the distance.”
contextual
“The stranger gave him a menacing look that made him want to leave the room immediately.”
complex
“The soundtrack shifted from a light melody to a low, menacing drone, signaling to the audience that the protagonist was no longer alone in the forest.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'look' or 'sound'.
Real-World Examples
“Gasperini’s three-pronged attack of those two with Matías Soulé, or the 19-year-old Rodrigo Mora, is fast becoming one of the most menacing in Serie A.” “However, things look very quiet for at least the next week or 10 days, and there is no evidence of a bunch of menacing tropical waves starting to emerge off the coast of Africa.” - 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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