menace
B2Formal, literary, journalistic. The sense of 'mischievous child' is informal.
Definition
Meaning
A person or thing that is likely to cause serious harm or danger; a threat.
A quality, atmosphere, or influence that is threatening or troublesome. Also, a nuisance or source of annoyance, especially a mischievous child.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it often implies a more serious, ominous, or pervasive threat than 'nuisance' but can be used hyperbolically. As a verb, it is transitive and often used in passive constructions or with an adverbial of manner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The informal sense of 'mischievous child' ('little menace') is slightly more common in BrE.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. Carries connotations of looming danger or insidious threat.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in BrE, but common in both. Often found in news/political discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N poses a menace to NN is a menace to NN is menaced by Nto menace N with NVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “with menace (in a threatening way)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'Cybercrime is a growing menace to global supply chains.'
Academic
'The study examines the perceived menace of invasive species to biodiversity.'
Everyday
'Those wasps are a real menace at the picnic.'
Technical
(Legal) 'The defendant was charged with causing a public menace.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Dark clouds menaced the coastal village.
- He was menaced by a group of youths.
American English
- The storm system menaced the Gulf Coast.
- She felt menaced by his aggressive tone.
adverb
British English
- He stared menacingly across the table. (from 'menacing')
American English
- The dog growled menacingly. (from 'menacing')
adjective
British English
- He gave her a menacing look. (as a participle adjective)
- The letter had a menacing tone.
American English
- The suspect's menacing behavior was noted. (as a participle adjective)
- A menacing silence filled the room.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Dogs can be a menace if they are not trained.
- Pollution is a major menace to our health.
- The noisy neighbours are a real menace.
- The new policy is seen as a menace to press freedom.
- Gang violence continues to menace the neighbourhood.
- His rhetoric menaced the fragile peace agreement.
- The film masterfully builds a sense of slow, creeping menace.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MEN ACE – a man who is an ace at causing trouble or danger.
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER IS A FORCE/ENTITY (The menace loomed over the city. We must combat this menace.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'угроза' for minor annoyances; 'menace' is stronger. For a simple 'threat' (promise of negative action), use 'threat' not 'menace'. The verb 'to menace' (угрожать) is less common than the noun.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'menace' as a synonym for 'problem' (too weak). Incorrect: *'Traffic is a menace today.' Correct: 'Traffic is a nuisance today.' Overusing the verb form in casual speech.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'menace' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it inherently describes something threatening, dangerous, or troublesome. It can be used humorously or hyperbolically ('my little brother is a menace'), but the core meaning is negative.
A 'threat' is a declaration of intent to cause harm or a source of potential danger. A 'menace' often implies a more palpable, ongoing, or atmospheric danger that feels oppressive or ominous. A menace is a type of threat, but one that feels more imminent or pervasive.
Yes, but it's less common than the noun. It means 'to threaten, especially in a sinister way' (e.g., 'Financial troubles menaced the company'). The adjective 'menacing' and adverb 'menacingly' are more frequently used.
Yes, this is a standard collocation, often used in legal or journalistic contexts to describe a person or activity considered harmful to the community.
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