1
as in curses
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poisons
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of banes
The actresses play the delightful mother-daughter duo Angela and Ainsley — who are oftentimes the banes of Tommy's (Billy Bob Thornton) existence — in the Taylor Sheridan series.
—
Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 28 Dec. 2025
But along with ready cash, the laissez-faire approach brought the banes of corruption, criminal infiltration, and rampant pollution.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
The aforementioned around-town mileage, for example, was one of the biggest banes of the Jeep owner's existence.
—New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2025
Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 28 Dec. 2025
But along with ready cash, the laissez-faire approach brought the banes of corruption, criminal infiltration, and rampant pollution.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
The aforementioned around-town mileage, for example, was one of the biggest banes of the Jeep owner's existence.
—New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banes
Noun
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Tens of millions of downloads deep, among discussions regarding ongoing bear curses and the quiet art of being a decent person, Drew Barrymore has asked about boogers and Jane Fonda has asked about hope.—
Brittany Delay,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
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There are still deliveries of hate mail from conservative neighbors who disapprove of their lifestyle, and occasional drive-bys punctuated with curses yelled from car windows, but they’ve largely been accepted by the community.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Don’t use poisons, traps, or deterrents that could cause harm.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
28 Apr. 2026
-
And nobody from the department asked the legislature to reconsider recent laws that gradually banned the strongest rat poisons.—
Susan Shelley,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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If needed, these personal alarms can be used to ward off threats, including people or animals, and serve to alert nearby rescue teams.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
1 May 2026
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The human stress response is a brilliant piece of engineering for acute threats, like a lion circling on the savanna.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Taking them to their natural habitat in Africa isn’t feasible, given their limited gene pool and chance of carrying diseases.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
1 May 2026
-
Inspect regularly for pests and diseases.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The Michigan Legislature passed a law in 2008 meant to protect the public from harmful electronic waste toxics.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
27 Dec. 2025
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Environmental advocates say the new regulation of air toxics, which was required under a 2022 bill called Public Protections From Toxic Air Contaminants, will make the state’s air cleaner and its people healthier.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Banes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banes. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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