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 singer-songwriter’s seventh album is their wackiest and funniest to date, with a madcap gleam coursing through its synth-pop portraits of lovable weirdos and suburban dread.

— Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
Moton lingered on the turf for a while, punching the turf in pain and dread, before a cart came out to transport him to the locker room.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of dread

Noun

Compassion doesn’t mean that presidents or other public officials should bow to enemies or surrender common sense in tackling the world’s harsh realities.

— Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
And despite huge military spending, Saudi forces have struggled to deter their enemies.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 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

In August, the health board designated a $250,000 fund for rat abatement — so far the only public money in Idaho specifically earmarked to combat the nuisance.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026
The tablet takes a good 20 to 30 seconds to boot up from that state, which is a nuisance compared with the instant wake-up from sleep mode.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 16 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

Noun

The idea of motorsport circuits as pampering, family-friendly environments has long been anathema to their nature.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
To be sitting on the sidelines as the editor and watch a translation sink in the mud of the centre of the pitch was anathema to him.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of anathema

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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 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bête noire

noun

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