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.
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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
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Mondays used to fill many of us with dread at the thought of returning to a rigid office environment.Steve Osler, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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New developments in generative AI have sparked existential dread in many film professionals, who fear that their jobs could someday be rendered obsolete.Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Our job is to give readers an independent, verifiable account of what’s happening, even if the president is calling us enemies of the people or bloodsuckers.Stephen Engelberg, ProPublica, 6 Nov. 2024
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Loos uses a specific enemy, the Aeshi Nero, as a prime example of what the team is going for.Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Caro Holdings intends to expand its marketplace platform to the pet care and spirits industries in the United States and the United Kingdom.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
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The luxury stay has 24-hour room and concierge service included in the price, as well as premium spirits and à la carte restaurants.Tess Foley-Cox, theweek, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The results point to Asian Americans’ sensitivity to the issue of crime and safety due to the uptick of anti-Asian hate during the height of the pandemic that many feel went unaddressed, experts say.Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
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He’s finally painted the town in the colors of his mother’s desperate dreams, but there will be no verbal acknowledgment of pride to drown out her final words of hate.Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
Noun
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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
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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
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The ambivalence of André and his parents was culturally unexceptional, but Simone’s abhorrence wasn’t.Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024
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To assume that liberalism is the only system that can justify or explain an abhorrence of bigotry is to ignore a wealth of moral traditions that are at least equally formative.Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 3 July 2024
Noun
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Less frequently observed, at least in my anecdotal observations, are would-be Kamala Harris voters requiring that extra push—largely because their antipathy to Trump is already such a decisive motivational driver.David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
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In fact, Democratic antipathy has turned many lifelong Democrats who work in crypto into Trump supporters, since the Biden administration has put their livelihoods at risk and treated these entrepreneurs as criminals.Laura Shin, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
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In journalism circles, Mezrich is known as one of the great nuisances of modern nonfiction — a man who has built his career making things up.Simon van Zuylen-Wood, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
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The county contends the plastic pollution traced to products made by the companies constitutes a public nuisance that they must be forced to redress.Nate Raymond, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024
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 22 Nov. 2024.
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