1
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
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2
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
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Recent Examples of bête noire
The illiberal Hungarian prime minister is the bete noire of the European Union, a beloved hero to a major segment of the U.S. right and most vocal statesman among nationalists in the West.
—
Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
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
The food stylist's bete noire turned out to be foam.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 3 Oct. 2022
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
Spiro Agnew called them — became a bete noire of the political right as more fiscally conservative governments raised public college tuition to levels once unthinkable.
—Will Bunch, Twin Cities, 10 Dec. 2019
Much as animosity toward President Donald Trump rouses Democrats, Pelosi is a bete noire for Republicans, who’ve long targeted her as the prototype of a San Francisco liberal.
—John McCormick, Bloomberg.com, 4 Apr. 2018
Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
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
The food stylist's bete noire turned out to be foam.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 3 Oct. 2022
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
Spiro Agnew called them — became a bete noire of the political right as more fiscally conservative governments raised public college tuition to levels once unthinkable.
—Will Bunch, Twin Cities, 10 Dec. 2019
Much as animosity toward President Donald Trump rouses Democrats, Pelosi is a bete noire for Republicans, who’ve long targeted her as the prototype of a San Francisco liberal.
—John McCormick, Bloomberg.com, 4 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bête noire
Noun
-
But there is a clinging dread and mystery in these stories that will stay with you.—
Drew Broussard
July 8,
Literary Hub,
8 July 2025
-
For Lawler, the incident drove home the growing problem of space junk—and left her with a sense of dread that’s never quite gone away.—
Dan Falk,
Smithsonian Magazine,
3 July 2025
Noun
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It’s often considered an enemy of development in the state due to its ability to slow projects to a grinding halt.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2025
-
After each round, a new hand is drawn from the deck, enemies perform their actions (and maybe more enemies appear), and action points reset.—
Jason Bennett,
Arkansas Online,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
The same spirit that saved my education, that ensures your holiday package arrives on time, could be written out of the equation altogether.—
Shekar Natarajan,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
The fun-loving spirit of the shimmery product was captured in the punky campaign, inspired by the 2012 thriller in which Gomez starred alongside Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine and James Franco.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
8 July 2025
Noun
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But where are those people now, when the hate is geared toward me?—
Jessica Tzikas,
Sun Sentinel,
10 July 2025
-
Classic case of hate dressed as activism—and that surname?—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Based on a 1967 Chevrolet Impala, the black beast is powered by a powerful Chevy V-8 and features parts sourced from a British Harrier fighter jet.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
11 Mar. 2022
-
Under the hood, the black beast is equipped with a 6.6-liter V-8 mated to an M40 three-speed automatic transmission.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
27 Jan. 2022
Noun
-
Holly hits the road with the activist and brings along a gun, despite her deep need to be near her home and her abhorrence of weapons.—
Maren Longbella,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2025
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The reactions from right-of-center publications divide into roughly four camps, aligning on a spectrum ranging from vocal approval to outright abhorrence.—
Zack Beauchamp,
Vox,
7 Dec. 2018
Noun
-
The reviewing judge was rightly unimpressed, and alerted Rosen that his newfound antipathy was not a legal basis for reducing death sentences.—
Dolores Carr,
Mercury News,
3 July 2025
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Trump’s antipathy toward international institutions is matched by his disregard for the parts of his own government that handle foreign affairs and national security.—
Massimo Calabresi,
Time,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Neighbors call in concerned about true nuisances that could affect the enjoyment of their private property.—
Andrew Wimer,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Angry residents would sabotage the robotaxis with the help of traffic cones, while the city’s fire department chief herself would regularly malign them as a dangerous nuisance.—
Christiaan Hetzner,
Fortune,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bête noire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/b%C3%AAte%20noire. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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