bugaboo

noun

bug·​a·​boo ˈbə-gə-ˌbü 

plural bugaboos

1

: an imaginary object of fear

2

: bugbear sense 2

also : something that causes fear or distress out of proportion to its importance

Synonyms

• dread
• bugbear
• bogy
• terror
• plague
• bogie
• bogey
• bête noire

Examples of bugaboo in a Sentence

politicians complaining about that old bugaboo, high oil prices

doing one's tax returns is a real bugaboo for a lot of people

Recent Examples on the Web

But this week, his irons are dialed, and suddenly the golfer most famous for his short game bugaboo is in the top five almost entirely because of his incredible saves around the green. —Brody Miller, New York Times, 15 June 2025

Of course, his biggest bugaboo has been his Strokes Gained: Around the Green. —Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025

Hispanic 2025-26 Upfront: Digital Expansion Plans & WBTV Hispanic Stream Launch Debt has been the company’s bugaboo since Discovery acquired Warner Media three years ago. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 May 2025

Range anxiety, the bugaboo of all-electric driving, is even more frightening for all-electric flying, where running out of power has worse consequences than having to pull over to the side of the road. —IEEE Spectrum, 9 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

earlier buggybow, bugger-bo, of unknown origin

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bugaboo

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue
• donohue

Kids Definition

bugaboo

noun

bug·​a·​boo ˈbəg-ə-ˌbü 

plural bugaboos

: bugbear sense 2, bogey