1
as in curse
a source of harm or misfortune
regarding the new laborsaving machinery as a bane, the 19th-century Luddites went about destroying it in protest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poison
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing
a plant that is believed to be the bane of the wolf
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bane
This terrain has already proven a bane to recent uncrewed lander attempts, including both missions by Intuitive Machines, which had landers tip after touchdown.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The Lakers arrived in Denver with a 17-5 record in games involving clutch time — the same situations that have been the bane of Denver’s existence since Jokic returned from a knee injury.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Now that temperatures are climbing and the ground is beginning to thaw, potholes have become the bane of almost every driver on the road.
—Paul Burton, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Perennials are just starting to send out new buds and shoots, lawns are starting to green, and the weeds—the bane of every gardener's existence—are really coming to life.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bane
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The Lakers arrived in Denver with a 17-5 record in games involving clutch time — the same situations that have been the bane of Denver’s existence since Jokic returned from a knee injury.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Now that temperatures are climbing and the ground is beginning to thaw, potholes have become the bane of almost every driver on the road.
—Paul Burton, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Perennials are just starting to send out new buds and shoots, lawns are starting to green, and the weeds—the bane of every gardener's existence—are really coming to life.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bane
Noun
-
In the first story, a couple worry about how a possible family curse that began when an ancestor made a bargain to escape enslavement might affect their happy life.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
-
There are still deliveries of hate mail from conservative neighbors who disapprove of their lifestyle, and occasional drive-bys punctuated with curses yelled from car windows, but they’ve largely been accepted by the community.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The applicator's reservoir is first filled with the poison.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
-
After the play-within-a-play, there’s no turning back, and the blood flows like wine or poison.—
Katie Walsh,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Magyar’s journey from an Orbán loyalist to his nemesis was swift.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The prosthetic arm belonging to Commandant Spangler (Daniel von Bargen), Francis' Marlin Academy nemesis, is also in the clutter.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Fox, 64, has worked for decades with Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with at age 29 in the early 1990s but kept private until 1998.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
For instance, there may be more car crashes, animal bites, property damage and zoonotic disease transmission.—
Daniel T. Blumstein,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Taking supporting women’s wrongs—and rights—to new levels, everyone’s favorite toxic on-screen Girl Boss duo are back for a fourth season of Industry: Harper Stern and Yasmin Kara-Hanani.—
Chloe Laws,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The Michigan Legislature passed a law in 2008 meant to protect the public from harmful electronic waste toxics.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
27 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bane. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
