bane

verb

baned; baning
Synonyms of banenext

transitive verb

obsolete
: to kill especially with poison

Word History

Etymology

derivative of bane entry 1

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bane was in 1578

Rhymes for bane

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Browse Nearby Words

bandy words
bane
baneberry
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Cite this Entry

“Bane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bane. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bane

noun
ˈbān
1
: poison entry 1 sense 1
2
: a source of harm, ruin, or unhappiness
greed is the bane of humanity

Medical Definition

bane

noun
ˈbān How to pronounce bane (audio)
: poison see henbane

More from Merriam-Webster on bane

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bane

Nglish: Translation of bane for Spanish Speakers

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