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

The world's largest online streamer and feared bogeyman (along with YouTube) of traditional media companies is taking yet another baby step into sports. —Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2025

The Antifa that Trump is always invoking as an all-purpose bogeyman—some lethal, disciplined underground network that resembles the Irish Republican Army—does not exist. —Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2025

To the Truman administration, which green-lit the plot, Árbenz's regard for the rural poor also smacked of communism, the era's bogeyman. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025

While many regard it as a digital bogeyman that will usher in he end of times, when the subject was broached during the stunt panel, the reaction was surprisingly sanguine. —Todd Longwell, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bogeyman

• businessman
• canavan
• caravan
• constantan
• dragoman
• fisherman
• handyman
• harmattan
• journeyman
• marianne
• middleman
• minivan

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