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

That type of guarantee of safety, according to Susan Mayne, former head of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, can only be achieved by the bogeyman in this whole debate: pasteurization. —Nicholas Florko, STAT, 3 July 2024

Warner likes to talk of the threats posed by culture-war bogeymen, such as critical race theory; diversity, equity and inclusion; and Shariah law. —Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 1 July 2024

Biden himself—if not his progressive allies—must surely recognize that portraying businesses as cartoonish bogeymen to appease fringe elements is needlessly self-destructive, alienating many would-be supporters. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 26 June 2024

Disney, taking advantage of that, created a somewhat memorable tale about the bogeyman. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 1 July 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