BANE Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

bane

noun

ˈbān

Definition of bane

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 Unpredictable weather is always the bane of eclipse chasing — and today's event has been no different. — Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026 But what was designed as the solution has instead become the most contentious problem in tennis, a poster child for the law of unintended consequences and the bane of many players’ existence. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 July 2026 United Airlines is getting rid of some of its middle seats, the bane of any airline passenger. — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 July 2026 Finger joint strains are the bane of long hours spent daily on the computer, which is what led Melvin Wong, founder and engineer at Airra Labs, to build a better computer mouse – the Rotary Mouse, which is currently on Kickstarter. — Shirl Leigh july 12, New Atlas, 12 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bane

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bane

Noun

The anime’s first part closed with the disturbances tied to the body-swap curse largely resolved, and with Reirin and Keigetsu having grown closer after coming to understand each other through the experience.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
For readers who are familiar with the literary curse of Plaschke in his column over the years, this prediction is not that.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of curse

Noun

This evidence was not allowed to be presented at trial because the judges ruled that the prosecution had not disproved that the lethal poison could also be used for innocent purposes, according to Smithsonian Magazine.

— Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Though The Lizzie Borden Story positions her as Lizzie’s feminist Virgil, Bridget’s first instinct is to kill the Bordens with poison, which was then considered to be the feminine murder weapon.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of poison

Noun

At an artists’ retreat, insecure trans cartoonist Al is caught in a love triangle between his best friend and his creative nemesis—and must win his best friend’s heart by learning to draw his feelings honestly.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026
Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers’ coach who doubles as McVay’s friend, mentor and nemesis, outmaneuvered McVay again.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of nemesis

Noun

Scientists see a troubling trend but are still investigating how the disease develops.

— Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026
The report said there was no evidence of a fatal injury or organic disease, though investigators could not determine how Wells suffered the bruise.

— Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of disease

Noun

In late May, about 50,000 people in Orange County were evacuated because, at a Garden Grove site operated by GKN Aerospace, tanks holding a volatile hazardous chemical called methyl methacrylate were at risk of exploding or leaking toxics.

— Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Munoz is an independent toxicologist working in collaboration with MAHA against pesticides and toxics.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 10 July 2026