different between menacing vs frightening

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?n?s??/
• Hyphenation: men?acing

Adjective

menacing (comparative more menacing, superlative most menacing)

1. Suggesting imminent harm.
2. Threatening.

Translations

Verb

menacing

1. present participle of menace

Translations

Noun

menacing (plural menacings)

1. The act of making menaces or threats.
   • 1824-1826, William Cobbett, History of the Protestant Reformation

     They remember his subornings, menacings, bribings, cuttings, maimings, hangings, and burnings.

English

Etymology

frighten +? -ing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f?a?t?n??/, /?f?a?tn??/
• Hyphenation: fright?en?ing

Adjective

frightening (comparative more frightening, superlative most frightening)

1. Causing fear; of capable of causing fear; scary.

   Riding the rollercoaster was a frightening experience.

2. (figuratively) Awful, terrible, very bad.

Synonyms

• Thesaurus:frightening

Derived terms

• frighteningly

Translations

Verb

frightening

1. present participle of frighten

   The scientist was frightening the timid children.