menace

[[t]me̱nɪs[/t]]

menaces, menacing, menaced

1) N-COUNT: usu sing, oft N to n, N of n 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.

...the menace of fascism...

Excessive drinking is a social menace.

Syn:

threat

2) N-COUNT: usu sing 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...

As I have said earlier in this book, bad shoes are a menace.

Syn:

nuisance

3) N-UNCOUNT 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.

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.

[V n] The European states retained a latent capability to menace Britain's own security.

Syn:

threaten

5) VERB If you are menaced by someone, they threaten to harm you.

[be V-ed] She's being menaced by her sister's latest boyfriend. [Also V n]

Syn:

threaten

6) PHRASE: usu PHR after v If someone commits the crime of demanding money with menaces, they threaten to cause harm unless they are given the money. [BRIT, LEGAL]

He denies demanding money with menaces.