BÊTES NOIRES Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

bêtes noires

noun

plural of bête noire

as in dreads

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 enemies

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bêtes noires

Noun

He's described by officials as a Black male in his late teens with a medium-large build and thick dreads.

— Nick Lentz, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Mirror images except for the fact that Jelani has his hair in dreads, while Ari goes with the more retro-look afro.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026

Definition of dreads

Noun

All of those artifacts give the characters superpowers on the battlefield, like Cai’s burst of flame that can hit multiple enemies at a distance.

— Jay Peters, The Verge, 13 Aug. 2026
Russia accused of trying to undermine Ukraine's allies Russia has long been accused of targeting its enemies abroad, including by using rare poisons.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of enemies

Noun

Today, the brown spirits landscape in this country has changed dramatically, and there is no longer a single state that does not have at least one whiskey producer.

— Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
But the growth of non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits has made zebra striping far more sustainable.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of spirits

Noun

As the representative for the armed wing of a human empire, you're tasked with subduing these Lovecraftian abominations and securing a foothold for humanity on alien worlds.

— Alan Bradley, Space.com, 5 Jan. 2026
The Succession Wars took a much darker turn thanks to the development of not just Battlemechs but of horrible flesh and steel monsters called abominations.

— Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

Definition of abominations

Noun

Others argued that the report seems to cast members of the media as nuisances to be dealt with, while ignoring instances in which journalists were targeted by law enforcement.

— Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
The Kansas City City Council approved a trio of ordinances on Thursday aimed at vacant properties that become nuisances and staving off demolition of historic buildings.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of nuisances

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bête noire

bêtes noires

bethel

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Style

“Bêtes noires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/b%C3%AAtes%20noires. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of bêtes noires

noun

Example Sentences

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