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bête noire

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noun \ˌbet-ˈnwär, ˌbāt-\

Definition of bête noire

plural

bêtes noires

play \ˌbet-ˈnwär(z), ˌbāt-\

  1. :  a person or thing strongly detested or avoided :  bugbear an idiosyncratic driver whose bête noire was the left turn — Marylin Bender

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Examples of bête noire in a Sentence

  1. a politician who is the bête noire of liberal groups

  2. doing my own tax return is the bête noire that haunts me every April

Origin and Etymology of bête noire

French, literally, black beast

bête noire Synonyms

Synonyms
bogey, black beast, bugaboo, bugbear, dread, hobgoblin, ogre
Antonyms
love
Related Words
apparition, ghost, phantasm (also fantasm), phantom, poltergeist, shade, specter (or spectre), spirit, spook, wraith; banshee, bogeyman (also bogyman), demon (or daemon), devil, fiend, ghoul, imp, incubus; fright, horrible, horror, monster, monstrosity, terror; bane, curse, enemy, plague, scourge, torment; abomination, anathema
Near Antonyms
beloved, darling, dear, honey, sweetheart; delight, enjoyment, felicity, joy, pleasure; favorite, like, preference; treasure

BÊTE NOIRE Defined for English Language Learners

bête noire

play
noun

Definition of bête noire for English Language Learners

  • : a person or thing that someone dislikes very much

Learn More about bête noire

  1. See words that rhyme with bête noire

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bête noire

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Examples: bête noire in a Sentence