banes of one's existence

Life's persistent annoyances

Banes of one's existence are persistent sources of annoyance, frustration, or misery in someone's life.

A bane is something that causes distress or ruin, so the phrase dramatizes everyday irritants as if they were poisons or curses: Telemarketers and pop-up ads are the banes of my existence.

The singular form is more common.

Related

parking tickets · traffic jams · morning commute · stress · procrastination · betrayal · addiction · anxiety · jealousy · guilt · rejection · criticism · systemic inequality · bad weather · alienation · hopelessness · overthinking · clutter

Opposites
experiential impact

banes of one's existenceblessings

Favors from the divine

delights · pleasures · comforts · bright spots · rays of sunshine

valuation

banes of one's existencetreasures

Prized possessions or valuables

blessings in disguise · gifts · raisons d'être · godsends · pride and joy

emotional burden

banes of one's existencecomforts

Eases distress; pleasures

anchors · lifelines · respites · refuges · havens

Family

banes, existence, exist, exists, existed, existing, existent, existential, existentially

Familiarity
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Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G