bogeyman

noun

variants also bogyman
Definition of bogeymannext
as in specter

Related Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bogeyman License-plate reading cameras could join data centers as a tech bogeyman in the US midterm elections. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Damac, sitting 15th in the SPL and requiring a point against Al Nassr to guarantee survival, were the team hoping to be the latest bogeyman in Ronaldo’s quest to be a champion in his fifth country, his eighth league triumph in 24 years. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 21 May 2026 To me, the FBI was just a dark, abstract presence—a childhood bogeyman—pursuing us all the time like a shadow out of a nightmare. — Literary Hub, 19 May 2026 Some use the idea as a bogeyman to scare up regulation, while others brandish it in marketing. — Matthew Hutson, IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bogeyman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bogeyman
  1. specter
  2. demon
  3. incubus
  4. ghoul
  5. phantom
  6. banshee
  7. terror
  8. imp
Noun
  • By century’s end, however, the specter of famine had largely receded (aside from tragedies of war and misgovernment, no small caveat).
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • While the weather painted a chaotic picture, stories from Malibu residents were of neighbors coming together as a community in a way only the specter of disaster could prompt.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of specter
Noun
  • The short, sharp argument in the MacNeil kitchen is an example of the upstairs demon pervading all bodies through hate.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The golden deer and the Lakshmana rekha When word of Khara’s death reaches his brother Ravana, the demon king vows revenge on Rama and Lakshmana with the assistance of Maricha (a rakshasa).
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of demon
Noun
  • The Devil’s Museum, a satellite of the main collection, has amassed more than 3,000 depictions of demons, evil spirits and incubus from around the world.
    — Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Your fame sits beside you like an incubus, and people are embarrassed and want to leave the room.
    — Candace Bushnell, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2025
Definition of incubus
Noun
  • Throughout outer space lie stars and galaxies that resemble creepy creatures, spooky skulls and galactic ghouls.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Humanoid moths and demon babies, hitchhiking ghouls, the occasional sea monster and even a suspicious phantom kangaroo or two.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of ghoul
Noun
  • As the frightening phantom of Frank the Bunny warns, this parallel reality has a ticking clock that’ll result in its imminent collapse in just 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Fadal brought up her own phantom smells during a recent podcast conversation with Andrea Donsky, a nutritionist who’s written about and conducted research on this symptom.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of phantom
Noun
  • Three species of bats inhabit the site, and supernatural events—including the appearance of the gamekeeper’s ghost and the wail of a banshee—have been reported.
    — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
  • Weaving, even more than before, makes Grace an ingénue gone banshee.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of banshee
Noun
  • Stewart gave the character so much humanity, life, and fear, the terror of a life wasted in pursuit of wealth to the abandonment of all else.
    — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Beetz is phenomenal as a young woman rocked by her own broken family history, willing to put herself in harm’s way to stop Jurek’s terror.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of terror
Noun
  • People have since replaced the imp with fictional people like Sam and Dean Winchester and Wednesday Addams, public figures like Gypsy-Rose Blanchard and even mascots like Ronald McDonald.
    — Angela Yang, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Mykal-Michelle Harris from Raven’s Home guest stars as Ruby, a mischievous moon imp who tricks Vee.
    — Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of imp

Browse Nearby Words

bogey
bogeyman
bogeymen
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Cite this Entry

“Bogeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bogeyman. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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