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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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
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
Four days after McCarthy's surprise showing, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy of New York - Johnson's bete noire - entered the race for the Democratic nomination.
—The Washington Post, AL.com, 31 Mar. 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
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
Four days after McCarthy's surprise showing, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy of New York - Johnson's bete noire - entered the race for the Democratic nomination.
—The Washington Post, AL.com, 31 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bête noire
Noun
-
The plans put in place to find a positive way forward included the following: The Merrillville Advantage: A proactive approach of sharing the many positive attributes that a diverse student body could bring to the community instead of having an atmosphere of fear or dread.—
Dr. Tony Lux,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
-
However, throngs of people wading into the Ganga often stoked the dread of infection and disease.—
Sudipta Sen,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Do Trump and Vance and their administration regard Ukraine as an ally and Putin’s Russia as an enemy?—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
18 Feb. 2025
-
At the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), dictator Francisco Franco declared victory and punished everyone who had opposed him: imprisonment or execution for those at the top of his enemies list and a purge in employment possibilities for others.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
So 7,500 of the books went to the Concord Library, and there’s this room now there that helped to buoy my spirits, knowing that was happening.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2025
-
This game embodies the spirit of what makes Obsidian games special, and a chance to prove that the studio is one of the most prolific RPG houses in the industry, whose own original creations can stand above even their stellar work making sequels for others.—
Hayes Madsen,
Rolling Stone,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Half said antisemitism is taken less seriously than other forms of hate and bigotry, according to the report.—
Katie Futterman Las Vegas Review-Journal (TNS),
arkansasonline.com,
15 Feb. 2025
-
The promise of two people who will most assuredly shift from hate to love to forever is a draw few can resist.—
Denise Williams,
People.com,
15 Feb. 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
-
One point that has been made is that President Trump, like President Reagan before him, has an abhorrence of nuclear weapons and would like to pursue a policy of denuclearization.—
David Szondy,
New Atlas,
6 Feb. 2025
-
What distinguishes the extreme far-left from the far-right, however, is an abhorrence for meaningless violence, death and terrorism — at least against people, anti-fascists and experts on the movement told USA TODAY.—
Will Carless,
USA TODAY,
5 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
During President-elect Donald Trump's first four years in office, Kennedy Center officials were forced to walk a public tightrope between the tradition of the president attending the ceremony and the open antipathy toward Trump from multiple honorees.—
ASHRAF KHALIL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
9 Dec. 2024
-
During Donald Trump's first four years in office, Kennedy Center officials were forced to walk a public tightrope between the tradition of the president attending the ceremony and the open antipathy toward Trump from multiple honorees.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Finally, Paddington graduates from nuisance to pathfinder, from struggling to fit in to forging his own identity.—
Natalia Winkelman,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2025
-
What is known is that the area of the attack had been frequently monitored by animal control authorities as a problematic zone where one or more dogs have been reported as being a nuisance or possible danger to the public, dating back to February 2023.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
10 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near bête noire
Cite this Entry
“Bête noire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/b%C3%AAte%20noire. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
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