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
-
That feeling of dread is really only a response to our dread as to what humans are capable of.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Aug. 2025
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Right now, a legislator, even Anwar, spending time in prison adds to the whispers of dread circulating around Hartford.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
9 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Bomarc rockets had jets designed to propel a W40 nuclear warhead into high-flying USSR aircraft, which would detonate in the sky, showering the earth with radioactive debris, neutralizing quite a few enemies of American freedom.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Strategic bombings are a critical component of modern warfare, crippling supply lines, disrupting operations, and breaking enemy morale.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This shared spirit between Magnolia Pearl and brands like Foreign Tongues as well as other artisan-first labels points to a rising current in fashion—a rejection of disposability, trend-chasing, and mass-production-at-all-costs.—
Tanya Benedicto Klich,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
For Gela, the spirits represent the fear of something.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But even if haters are gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, Swift definitely has two football lovers who are pumped up to see her on New Heights: Travis and Jason.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
13 Aug. 2025
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Those people generally seem to feel the need to continue their hate year over year, no matter the improvements, because hate sells more than love or even contentment.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 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
-
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
-
Heritage and its founder Edwin Feulner are the antipathy of conservativism.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
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But vaccine mandates during the pandemic sowed fierce antipathy towards the technology, leading to widespread public opposition.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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If hosts are found to advertise as a party location or become a chronic nuisance to the neighborhood, Airbnb may remove the listing or force the host to update occupancy numbers.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Here’s how to discourage squirrels from becoming a nuisance in your home and garden.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bête noire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/b%C3%AAte%20noire. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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