1
as in curse
a source of harm or misfortune
regarding the new laborsaving machinery as a bane, the 19th-century Luddites went about destroying it in protest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poison
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing
a plant that is believed to be the bane of the wolf
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 bane
Inclement weather has long been the bane of festivals and outdoor tours, and differentiating between climate change and a stretch of bad storms can be tricky.
—
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
In the first episode, my friend Anthony, who’s also a cameraman on the show, talks about vertical video being the bane of society.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
The bane of garbage cans and general irritation in cities nationwide.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2025
By learning from early examples, listening to expert warnings and proactively addressing AI's challenges, humanity can strive to ensure that this revolution becomes more boon than bane for both society and our planet.
—Vaibhav Dani, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bane
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
In the first episode, my friend Anthony, who’s also a cameraman on the show, talks about vertical video being the bane of society.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
The bane of garbage cans and general irritation in cities nationwide.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2025
By learning from early examples, listening to expert warnings and proactively addressing AI's challenges, humanity can strive to ensure that this revolution becomes more boon than bane for both society and our planet.
—Vaibhav Dani, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bane
Noun
-
After coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the 2004 American League Championship Series, the Red Sox not only broke their World Series curse that year, but went on to defeat the Yankees in the teams' next two postseason battles in 2018 and 2021.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The Grudge Karen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is an American nurse living in Tokyo who is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse.—
Caitlin White,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Historically, gossip is equal parts social glue and poison.—
Oriel FeldmanHall,
Time,
6 Oct. 2025
-
In this lead-free America, children grow up with their minds and bodies not damaged by this poison.—
Tom Frieden,
Big Think,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Through Chapter Progression, players can recruit Blazkowicz alongside his nemesis, scientist Strasse, both available with zero perks.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Even Pep Guardiola, once Mourinho’s cultural nemesis, employed stymying tactics as his Manchester City side ended their game at Arsenal earlier this month with just 33 per cent of possession.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But warming ocean temperatures, rising sea levels, disease and human activity, such as pollution, have severely degraded Florida's reefs, according to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
-
In the series, Marie, an ambitious young woman of minor nobility, learns that her lung disease is terminal.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Environmental advocates say the new regulation of air toxics, which was required under a 2022 bill called Public Protections From Toxic Air Contaminants, will make the state’s air cleaner and its people healthier.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
-
In 2023, 20 steel mills and coke plants nationwide emitted nearly 2.4 million pounds of air toxics, 289,722 tons of criteria air pollutants and 43.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, according to the study.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bane. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share