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
Finicky, unresponsive, uncomfortable, or unreliable bindings are the bane of any rider’s existence—a thorn in your side that, at best, leads to under-your-breath expletives while strapping in.
—
Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 11 Oct. 2024
This thing has become the bane of my existence ...
GREWAL takes it and places it on her mobile desktop.
—Ayad Akhtar, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024
The work has become the bane of residents' existence.
—Steph Solis, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
Group chats are both the bane of my existence and the light of my life.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bane 
Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 11 Oct. 2024
This thing has become the bane of my existence ...
GREWAL takes it and places it on her mobile desktop.
—Ayad Akhtar, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024
The work has become the bane of residents' existence.
—Steph Solis, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
Group chats are both the bane of my existence and the light of my life.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bane
Noun
-
Glamour is a gift and a curse as Venus and Neptune align.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
1 Feb. 2025
-
Google / Ars Technica A cathartic curse eliminates the AI Overview in the results.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Their days are taken up with shooting practice, lobster racing, pelting men with fruit, and slipping poison into unattended cups of tea—and best of all, there isn’t a damsel in distress in sight.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2025
-
Cleveland doctors would soon find a deadly dose of the same poison in her sister’s stomach.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Black-robed Trump nemeses emerged as a menacing force during the first Trump administration.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
-
In The Incredible Hulk, Hurt portrayed Bruce Banner’s (Edward Norton, before Mark Ruffalo took over the MCU role) nemesis Gen. Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross, who is also the father of Bruce’s scientist love interest Betty Ross (Liv Tyler).—
Natalie Sitek,
Deadline,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Show creator Samantha Strauss said the character of Lucy was important to depict what a lot of people feel when fighting a disease: not listened to, not in control and not acknowledged as a full person.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN,
16 Feb. 2025
-
Leukemia, a disease of the blood and bone marrow, disrupts the body's ability to produce normal blood cells.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
What these arguments fail to understand is that DEI protections were put in place for certain groups because of historically discriminatory hiring practices and to course-correct toxic, racist, ableist, homophobic, transphobic, and sexist workplaces.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
refinery29.com,
30 Jan. 2025
-
This strategy has amplified his visibility but has also drawn criticism for aligning with internet personalities accused of toxic and, for some, abusive behaviors.—
Kia Turner,
refinery29.com,
28 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near bane
Cite this Entry
“Bane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bane. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share