menace
gb/mˈɛnɪs/ us/mˈɛnɪs/
B2
English
~ 7700
fenyegetés, veszélyforrás, fenyegető jelleg, fenyegető hangulat, fenyegető él, rosszcsont, fenyeget, veszélyeztet
NOUN
B2
1
fenyegetés
B2
Usage pattern:
a menace to [someone/something]
Many experts say climate change is the greatest menace to our planet.
Sok szakértő szerint a klímaváltozás jelenti a legnagyobb fenyegetést a bolygónkra nézve.
The gang quickly became a menace to the neighborhood.
A banda hamar veszélyt jelentett a környékbeliekre.
Drunk drivers are a serious menace to other road users.
Some people see social media as a menace to democracy.
The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a growing menace to public health.
Learner examples
The new virus is a real menace to older people.
Az új vírus valódi veszélyt jelent az idősekre.
Smoking is a menace to your health.
A dohányzás komoly veszélyt jelent az egészségedre.
The factory became a menace to the river and the fish.
Litter in the streets is a menace to local wildlife.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes forget the article and say *"He is menace"* instead of *"He is a menace"*. Another common mistake is using *"menace"* for small problems that are not serious; for everyday small problems, *"nuisance"* is usually better.
Meaning
dangerous or harmful person or thing
Collocations
a menace to society
|public menace
|pose a menace
|serious menace
|environmental menace
|terrorist menace
Synonyms
threat (The most common word; can be less strong, while "menace" often sounds more serious or dramatic.)
|
danger (Focuses on the risk itself; "menace" often suggests an ongoing or active source of danger.)
Antonyms
protection (Something that keeps people or things safe, the opposite of something that puts them in danger.)
|
safeguard (A measure or thing that prevents harm, contrasting with a menace that causes harm.)
Themes
safety
|crime
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person or thing that can cause serious harm or danger, especially to many people or to society.
A person, thing, or situation that is very dangerous or likely to cause serious harm, especially to many people or to society in general.
NOUN
C1
2
Usage pattern:
a sense of menace in [something]
There was a clear note of menace in his voice when he spoke.
Amikor beszélt, egyértelműen fenyegető él volt a hangjában.
The empty streets and broken windows gave the town an air of menace.
Az üres utcák és a betört ablakok miatt fenyegető hangulata volt a városnak.
The director slowly builds a sense of menace throughout the film.
Dark clouds gathered over the city, adding a quiet menace to the evening.
Her smile was warm, but her eyes held a hint of menace.
Learner examples
I heard a little menace in his voice and felt afraid.
Volt némi fenyegető él a hangjában, és megijedtem.
The room was silent, and there was a sense of menace in the air.
Csend volt a szobában, és fenyegető hangulat volt a levegőben.
The movie uses music to create an air of menace.
The dog walked toward us with calm menace.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with the more concrete sense of a dangerous person or thing. If you talk about an *"air of menace"* or a *"sense of menace"*, you mean the feeling or mood, not the person or object itself.
Meaning
threatening or frightening quality
Collocations
sense of menace
|air of menace
|hint of menace
|tone of menace
|voice full of menace
|atmosphere of menace
Synonyms
threat (Can refer both to an actual danger and the feeling of danger; "menace" here focuses on the mood or atmosphere.)
|
sinisterness (Formal and rare; like "menace", it suggests something dark and possibly evil, but is used much less in everyday language.)
Antonyms
reassurance (The feeling that things are safe and will be okay, the opposite of a feeling of menace.)
|
calm (A peaceful, relaxed feeling with no sense of threat.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|art
Definition
A strong feeling that something bad or dangerous may happen, often because of someone’s voice, behavior, or the situation.
A general feeling or quality of threat or danger in someone's manner, voice, or in a place or situation.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
3
rosszcsont
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a (little) menace
Her twins are adorable, but they can be total menaces when they get tired.
Az ikrei imádnivalók, de ha elfáradnak, igazi kis rosszcsontok tudnak lenni.
You little menace, stop throwing your toys at the dog!
Te kis rosszcsont, ne dobáld a játékaidat a kutyára!
He was such a menace at school that the teachers all knew his name.
Our cat is a menace to the furniture but we love her anyway.
As a teenager he was a bit of a menace around the village.
Learner examples
My son is a little menace when he is tired.
A fiam igazi kis rosszcsont, amikor fáradt.
The boys were menaces in class today.
A fiúk ma igazi rosszcsontok voltak az órán.
Stop being a menace and sit down, please.
Our puppy is a menace in the kitchen.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this informal sense is always very serious. In everyday speech, *"You little menace"* is often half-joking and does not always mean real danger. It is usually used about children, friends, or pets, not strangers in formal contexts.
Meaning
annoying or troublesome person (informal)
Collocations
little menace
|you menace
|absolute menace
|be a real menace
|cheeky little menace
|such a menace
Synonyms
nuisance (Very close in meaning; often a bit milder and more neutral, while "menace" can sound more dramatic or joking.)
|
pest (Informal and often joking; like "menace", it is frequently used about children or people who annoy you.)
Antonyms
angel (Informal; often used jokingly for a very well-behaved child, the opposite of a child who is a "menace".)
|
sweetheart (A kind and pleasant person, the opposite of someone who causes trouble.)
Themes
daily life
|relationships
|humor
|daily_life
Definition
A person, often a child, who makes trouble and annoys people, but is not really dangerous.
A person, especially a child or pet, who causes a lot of trouble or annoyance in a lively or mischievous way, usually not in a seriously dangerous way.
VERB
C1
4
fenyeget
B1
veszélyeztet
B2
Usage pattern:
to menace [someone/something] (with [something])
Rising sea levels menace low-lying coastal communities around the world.
Az emelkedő tengerszint világszerte fenyegeti az alacsonyan fekvő part menti közösségeket.
Armed gangs continue to menace residents in the border region.
Fegyveres bandák továbbra is fenyegetik a határ menti régió lakóit.
Toxic fumes from the factory menace the health of nearby workers.
The dictator used his secret police to menace political opponents.
A large dog menaced the hikers, growling as they passed by.
Learner examples
Polluted water menaces the fish in the lake.
A szennyezett víz veszélyezteti a tó halait.
Armed groups menace people in the city at night.
Fegyveres csoportok fenyegetik éjszaka az embereket a városban.
The disease still menaces many poor countries.
A man menaced her with a knife in the street.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use *"menace"* as often as *"threaten"*. In everyday English, *"threaten"* is much more common as a verb; *"menace"* often sounds formal, literary, or used in news writing.
Meaning
to threaten or endanger
Collocations
menace society
|menace coastal cities
|menace wildlife
|menace workers
|menace the region
|menace him with a knife
Synonyms
threaten (The most common verb; "menace" is more formal or literary and often sounds stronger.)
|
endanger (Focuses on putting something in danger; "menace" often suggests an active or ongoing threat.)
Antonyms
protect (Means to keep someone or something safe, the opposite of threatening or endangering them.)
|
safeguard (To actively guard against harm, contrasting with "menace", which brings harm.)
Themes
safety
|crime
|environment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To threaten someone or something, or to put them in great danger.
To threaten to cause harm or serious trouble to someone or something, or to put someone or something in a position of serious danger.
Grammar
Dictionary form
menace
IPA
GB/mˈɛnɪs/
US/mˈɛnɪs/
Syllables & stress
men - ace (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (men)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: menace
- Plural: menace, menaces
Verb
- Base: menace
- 3rd Person Singular: menaces
- Present Participle: menacing
- Past: menaced
Word family
Forms
menaces
noun
menacing
verb
menaced
verb
Related words
menacingly
adverb B2
Expressions
a menace to society
1/ə mˈɛnɪs tə səsˈaɪəti/
fixed phrase
person seen as very harmful to society
A person who is very harmful or dangerous to other people in the community.
Examples
- The judge called the violent criminal a menace to society.
- Some people said the corrupt politician was a menace to society and should resign.
- Online scams are becoming a real menace to society.
air of menace
1/ˈɛɹ əv mˈɛnɪs/
fixed phrase
literary
threatening or dangerous atmosphere
An atmosphere or mood that feels dangerous or threatening.
Examples
- The empty streets had an air of menace after dark.
- The painting has an air of menace that makes viewers uneasy.
- His calm voice carried an air of menace.
public menace
1/pˈʌblɪk mˈɛnɪs/
fixed phrase
harmful person or thing to the public
A person or thing that is very harmful or dangerous to many people.
Examples
- Officials have described the gang as a public menace.
- Uncontrolled fires have become a public menace in the dry season.
- The mayor called illegal dumping a public menace that must be stopped.
sense of menace
1/sˈɛns əv mˈɛnɪs/
fixed phrase
general feeling of coming danger
A strong feeling that something bad or dangerous may happen soon.
Examples
- The film creates a growing sense of menace from the very first scene.
- There was a sense of menace in the crowd as the protest turned violent.
- Dark music added a sense of menace to the play.
with menaces
1/wˈɪθ mˈɛnɪsɪz/
fixed phrase
formal
using threats to force someone
Using threats of harm to make someone do something, often used in legal or news language.
Examples
- He was charged with demanding money with menaces.
- The new law targets anyone who obtains property with menaces.
- Police said the suspect tried to get the documents with menaces.