BÊTE NOIRE Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

bête noire

noun

ˌbet-ˈnwär

Definition of bête noire

as in dread

something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason doing my own tax return is the bête noire that haunts me every April

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in enemy

something or someone that is hated in that organization's view, society's number one bête noire should be the drunk driver of a motor vehicle

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 bête noire There’s plenty of satisfying comic justice to come when Salieri is left alone to his own devices — and to spend a lot of climactic alone time with the audience — long after his bete noire is gone. — Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026 David Warner, like his bete noire Broad, was involved in 2023 but has retired since. — Darren Richman, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025 Others also pointed to a 2010 Bon Jovi gig in Tokyo that featured images of the Dalai Lama – Beijing’s bete noire – on the stage background. — Heather Chen, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024 Wilt Chamberlain, Russell’s friend and lifelong bete noire, tried to slow down the game by taking Russell one-on-one in half-court sets that put the massive, absurdly gifted Wilt square in the post. — Corbin Smith, Rolling Stone, 8 Feb. 2023 To some Republican participants in the hearing, the whole thing seemed like an opportunity to take easy shots at outlets like Fox News, long a bete noire of the liberal and Democratic establishment. — Andy Meek, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2021 Final approval rests with Italian President Sergio Mattarella—a respected figure in Italy’s establishment and another bete noire of the League and 5 Star Movement. — WSJ, 11 Feb. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bête noire

Noun

Mary understands pacing, atmosphere, and how to withhold information to create dread.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026
Third of all, overcoming two years of dread took a long time.

— Monique John, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of dread

Noun

Not among our political enemies, not among our historical heroes, not among our martyrs, not among the incels, and not among the collaborators.

— Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
So far, neither the city nor the conservancy seems willing to see speed itself as the enemy, but maybe another fatal crash or two will convince them.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of enemy

Noun

The responsibility assigned to Caitlin Clark The list of WNBA media members who have openly called for Clark to denounce online hate, something Clark has done multiple times by the way, is almost too long to count.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Because at the end of the day, hate will never have the final word.

— Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of hate

Noun

El-Sayed and Piker have professed their abhorrence of anti-Semitism.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
When human decency and basic civility fall victim to partisanship and ideology, and abhorrence of violence becomes tempered by political aims, monstrosities and tyrannies become possible.

— Michael Bloomberg, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025

Definition of abhorrence

Noun

The other is that Republicans’ antipathy towards vote-by-mail is waning.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
Alexander Kazakov | Afp | Getty Images That Russia and China are seen as ideologically aligned on many geopolitical issues, with each sharing a traditional antipathy and distrust towards the West, and Washington.

— Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 20 May 2026

Definition of antipathy

Noun

In Shibuya, Halloween festivities were already a nuisance — but now, officials realized there was more to worry about than empty bottles and loud music.

— Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
The residents want a court to rule that Los Angeles must abate the nuisance on its properties, Wurman said.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of nuisance

Noun

What are the implications when much of humanity witnesses the same pyrotechnic abomination at the same time?

— David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026
It a thematic fit, and after nearly 200 episodes, there’s no doubting this team’s ability to deliver fresh, new abominations.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of abomination

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bet

bête noire

bêtes noires

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“Bête noire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/b%C3%AAte%20noire. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of bête noire

noun

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