bogeyman

noun

bo·​gey·​man ˈbu̇-gē-ˌman 

ˈbō-,

ˈbü-,

ˈbu̇-gər- 

variants or less commonly bogyman

1

: a monstrous imaginary figure used in threatening children

2

: a terrifying or dreaded person or thing : bugbear

Examples of bogeyman in a Sentence

My aunt used to say to my sister and me, “The bogeyman will get you if you're bad.”

a politician who is the familiar bogeyman of conservatives

Recent Examples on the Web

For many in Washington, China is the new foreign policy bogeyman—an existential threat that justifies higher and higher Pentagon budgets. —Bernie Sanders, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024

In the second half of the past decade, a new political bogeyman appeared on the global scene: the illiberal democrat. —Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bogeyman

noun

bo·​gey·​man ˈbu̇g-ē-ˌman  ˈbō-gē- 

ˈbü-gē-

1

: an imaginary monster used in threatening children

2

: a terrifying or dreaded person or thing