Bane
/beɪn/
nounB2
Definition
Bane is a noun that means something or someone that causes a lot of problems, pain, or suffering. It is often used to describe a source of trouble that seems hard to avoid or stop. People use it when talking about things that cause continuous difficulties.
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See It in Action
A cause of great trouble or misery
- •The loud noise was the bane of my concentration.
- •Traffic jams are the bane of city drivers.
- •His fear of public speaking was the bane of his career.
Something that causes death or destruction (more old-fashioned or literary use)
- •The deadly plant was known as the bane of many animals.
- •Poison ivy is the bane of hikers in the forest.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "bane" like "problem," but much stronger and more serious—like a big, heavy problem that keeps coming back
- ✓Picture a dark cloud hanging over a happy place, making everything gloomy and hard
- ✓It's the feeling when something ruins your day or causes you constant worry and pain
- ✓Sounds like "bane" → imagine a painful sting or sharp pain that you cannot ignore
- ✓In stories, a "bane" is often like a curse or poison that causes harm, like the "bane of a hero" who must overcome it
- ✓NOT like "mistake" (a small or fixable error); "bane" is a deep, ongoing source of trouble
- ✓NOT like "accident" (a one-time event); "bane" is continuous and often unavoidable
- ✓NOT like "enemy" (a person who harms you); "bane" can be a thing, situation, or person causing harm
- ✓NOT like "annoyance" (small irritation); "bane" is serious and causes real harm or sadness
Try Other Words
- •Curse: something that brings bad luck or harm (Use when the problem feels like a punishment or bad fate)
- •Plague: a serious problem that affects many people (Use when the trouble is widespread or very harmful)
- •Problem: a general difficulty or issue (Use when the difficulty is less serious or temporary)
- •Nemesis: a persistent enemy or opponent (Use when the bane is a person or force that always causes defeat or trouble)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, a simple root word)
- •Etymology: From Old English "bana," meaning "killer" or "slayer"
- •Historical development: Originally meant a person or thing that causes death; over time, it came to mean any serious cause of harm or misery
- •Modern usage: Used mostly in literary or formal contexts to describe something causing serious trouble or unhappiness, often metaphorical
Reflect & Connect
•Can something small become a bane if it causes trouble for a long time? How do you decide what is a bane in your life?
•How does calling a problem a "bane" change the way you think about it compared to calling it a "problem" or "trouble"?
Fill in the blanks
1.The loud barking dog was the bane of my ___, making it hard to concentrate.
2.For many students, exams are the bane of their ___ because they cause stress and worry.
3.Unlike a small mistake, a bane is something that causes ___ problems over time.
4.She said the traffic was her bane, meaning it made her daily commute ___ and frustrating.
5.The phrase "bane of my existence" means something that causes ___ trouble or unhappiness.
6.When people talk about the bane of a city, they usually mean a problem that affects ___ people there.
7.Unlike "annoyance," a bane often causes serious ___ or harm, not just small irritation.