What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
menacingly
Example
He glared at her menacingly, making her feel uneasy. [menacingly: adverb]
Example
The dog growled menacingly, warning the stranger to stay away. [menacingly: adverb]
threateningly
Example
He raised his fist threateningly, making her fear for her safety. [threateningly: adverb]
Example
The storm clouds gathered threateningly, signaling an impending storm. [threateningly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Threateningly is more commonly used than menacingly in everyday language. Threateningly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while menacingly is less common and refers to a more specific type of behavior or situation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between menacingly and threateningly?
Threateningly is generally considered more formal than menacingly. However, both words can be used in both formal and informal contexts depending on the situation and tone.