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

The line between dread and pleasure within the realm of the temporally-uncanny is a fine one.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2026
Royals, who has typically sported some of the team’s most stylish hair, cut his dreads last week.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of dread

Noun

For his druggy riff on Big Daddy, Firstman recruited former enemies, current friends, and a variety of other personalities from New York’s LGBTQ+ party scene.

— Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026
Ali’s mournful assassin is trying to stay one step ahead of his enemies and, likewise, the movie fights like hell to elude conventionality.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of enemy

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

The pest has also become a nuisance for residents in communities near mushroom farms.

— Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
Oliver played a massive snap share and did a lot of little things to help free up his teammates, while continuing to be a nuisance in one-on-ones.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Sep. 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

Noun

There are likely many of you reading this who will never ever be convinced and see AI as anathema to creativity.

— Brian Welk, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
Ceding federal lands is also anathema to land preservation groups, which expressed dismay at the idea that any piece of Yosemite might be lost, no matter how small.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of anathema

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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 28 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of bête noire

noun

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