Words / B2

MEN-uh-s/ˈmenəs/

A menace is a person or thing likely to cause harm: a flood menace; a menace to. Threat is the close twin; danger is wider. Name it in the source, not a vibe. Verb: menace. Mix-up: menaces is also a legal word (demanding money); minus is subtraction (later in this set). Do not write menace for a mild nuisance.

Meaning

A person or thing that is likely to cause harm; a threat.

Examples

• “Name the flood menace in the source, not a vibe about “danger”.”
• “The editorial called the dog a menace, which is the harmful-person-or-thing sense.”

Good to know

a menace to; the + noun + menace. Close: threat. Trap: minus / mild nuisance. Geography, news, and law. A real threat, not a slight bother.

Near in meaning

threat

New