英語

menace

gb/mˈɛnɪs/ us/mˈɛnɪs/
B2 英語
~ 7700
語義
0件の語義
名詞 B2 entity
1

dangerous or harmful person or thing

A person or thing that can cause serious harm or danger, especially to many people or to society.

用法パターン: a menace to [someone/something]
よくある間違い:
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.
類義語
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.)
対義語
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.)
コロケーション
a menace to society |public menace |pose a menace |serious menace |environmental menace |terrorist menace
テーマ
safety |crime |society |core_vocabulary
例文
  • Many experts say climate change is the greatest menace to our planet.
  • The gang quickly became a menace to the neighborhood.
  • 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.
学習者向け例文
  • The new virus is a real menace to older people.
  • Smoking is a menace to your health.
  • The factory became a menace to the river and the fish.
  • Litter in the streets is a menace to local wildlife.
名詞 C1 property
2

threatening or frightening quality

A strong feeling that something bad or dangerous may happen, often because of someone’s voice, behavior, or the situation.

用法パターン: a sense of menace in [something]
よくある間違い:
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.
類義語
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.)
対義語
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.)
コロケーション
sense of menace |air of menace |hint of menace |tone of menace |voice full of menace |atmosphere of menace
テーマ
emotions |communication |art
例文
  • There was a clear note of menace in his voice when he spoke.
  • The empty streets and broken windows gave the town an air of menace.
  • 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.
学習者向け例文
  • I heard a little menace in his voice and felt afraid.
  • The room was silent, and there was a sense of menace in the air.
  • The movie uses music to create an air of menace.
  • The dog walked toward us with calm menace.
名詞 informal B2 entity
3

annoying or troublesome person (informal)

A person, often a child, who makes trouble and annoys people, but is not really dangerous.

用法パターン: [someone] is a (little) menace
よくある間違い:
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.
類義語
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.)
対義語
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.)
コロケーション
little menace |you menace |absolute menace |be a real menace |cheeky little menace |such a menace
テーマ
daily life |relationships |humor |daily_life
例文
  • Her twins are adorable, but they can be total menaces when they get tired.
  • You little menace, stop throwing your toys at the dog!
  • 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.
学習者向け例文
  • My son is a little menace when he is tired.
  • The boys were menaces in class today.
  • Stop being a menace and sit down, please.
  • Our puppy is a menace in the kitchen.
動詞 C1 action
4

to threaten or endanger

To threaten someone or something, or to put them in great danger.

用法パターン: to menace [someone/something] (with [something])
よくある間違い:
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.
類義語
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.)
対義語
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.)
コロケーション
menace society |menace coastal cities |menace wildlife |menace workers |menace the region |menace him with a knife
テーマ
safety |crime |environment |core_vocabulary
例文
  • Rising sea levels menace low-lying coastal communities around the world.
  • Armed gangs continue to menace residents in the border region.
  • 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.
学習者向け例文
  • Polluted water menaces the fish in the lake.
  • Armed groups menace people in the city at night.
  • The disease still menaces many poor countries.
  • A man menaced her with a knife in the street.
文法
辞書形
menace
IPA
GB/mˈɛnɪs/
US/mˈɛnɪs/
音節・強勢
men - ace (2音節)
Stress on 1st syllable (men)
活用形
Noun
  • Base: menace
  • Plural: menace, menaces
Verb
  • Base: menace
  • 3rd Person Singular: menaces
  • Present Participle: menacing
  • Past: menaced
関連語
Forms
menaces noun menacing verb menaced verb
Related words
menacingly adverb B2
表現

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.

例文
  • 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.

例文
  • 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.

例文
  • 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.

例文
  • 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.

例文
  • 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.

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