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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bane
Plastic, that bane of California policymakers and activists, is hardly recycled.
—
Kerry Jackson, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Besides, high cholesterol is the bane of men in my family, not cancer — so why worry?
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Relationships can feel like both a blessing and the bane of your existence, a source of joy and a source of frustration or resentment.
—Jessica A. Stern, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Then came the Mattis decision, the bane of grieving victims’ families since it was issued.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bane
Kerry Jackson, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Besides, high cholesterol is the bane of men in my family, not cancer — so why worry?
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Relationships can feel like both a blessing and the bane of your existence, a source of joy and a source of frustration or resentment.
—Jessica A. Stern, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Then came the Mattis decision, the bane of grieving victims’ families since it was issued.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bane
Noun
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For Ukraine, the war has been a curse – a curse to survive and adapt long enough to spare Europe’s borders from Russia’s forces and absolve its allies from springing into greater action.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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Indeed, various curses and slurs could be heard shouted from the audience at London's Royal Festival Hall, even during some segments broadcast to audiences in England and abroad.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
State lawmakers voted last week to serve Floridians a dose of pretty poison, bottled in the shape of a massive tax cut and dangled before voters in the November election.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
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Yet the trio spitting this poison seemed full of joy.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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All of the characters are entertaining, but the dynamic between Sherlock and Moriarty, his future nemesis, is the most engaging.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
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Caine issued a warning to any nemesis of the United States contemplating any actions to threaten American interests around the world.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Detainees have described a camp where an average of about 3,000 people per day live in loud and unsanitary quarters, diseases spread easily and sleep is a luxury.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
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That same month, Stewart, who had dedicated his career to ticks and Lyme disease as a federal scientist, retired early.—
Rachana Pradhan,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Taking supporting women’s wrongs—and rights—to new levels, everyone’s favorite toxic on-screen Girl Boss duo are back for a fourth season of Industry: Harper Stern and Yasmin Kara-Hanani.—
Chloe Laws,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
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The Michigan Legislature passed a law in 2008 meant to protect the public from harmful electronic waste toxics.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
27 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bane. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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