variants
also bogyman
as in specter
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Recent Examples of bogeyman
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
Adrian Morejon struck out one in 2 1/3 scoreless innings and gave way to the San Diego bogeyman Mason Miller, who cranked it up to 104 mph in a strikeout of Carson Kelly and struck out five in 1 2/3 innings.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bogeyman
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
Adrian Morejon struck out one in 2 1/3 scoreless innings and gave way to the San Diego bogeyman Mason Miller, who cranked it up to 104 mph in a strikeout of Carson Kelly and struck out five in 1 2/3 innings.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bogeyman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bogeyman
Noun
-
This raises the specter of the Fed nearing the terminal rate for this cycle before too long.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The specter of nuclear annihilation was now forever a reality, and the Cold War heightened the sense of uncertainty.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So, Hippocrates argued, the illness of epilepsy must be caused, like any other illness, by imbalance, not demons.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Rumi’s accessories include her Four Tiger Sword and a HUNTR/X light stick, while Juni, appearing in his demon form, includes his guitar and a Saja Boys light stick.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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
Noun
-
In his masterful first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, ghouls and spirits keep chattering away, as if at a corner barbershop, while Abraham Lincoln mourns his dead 11-year-old son, Willie.—
Pico Iyer,
Air Mail,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Suturing Mary Shelley’s novel to his own 21st century anti-technocrat ferocity, Guillermo del Toro cranked up his ambitions in every element from costumes to cinematography and thrillingly brought his favorite ghoul to life.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Investigators said the resident was experiencing excruciating pain from a hernia, phantom leg syndrome and nerve damage from diabetes.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Gives himself entirely to the race, shoots like a phantom up through the opening and then stands panting in the garret, completely motionless, while his eyes become accustomed to the change of light.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The bond between a rider and their banshee doesn't break, and chances are your bond with this two-figure set won't either.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
19 Dec. 2025
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Then, like an alarm clock, howler monkeys unleashed their banshee shriek, staking their territory as the sun rose.—
Ryan Knighton,
AFAR Media,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Within the broader terror campaign, the administration is focused on the most vulnerable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Douglas doesn’t understand why his children are partial to their mother, his ex-wife, who was the source of so much instability and terror.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Mykal-Michelle Harris from Raven’s Home guest-stars as Ruby, a mischievous moon imp who tricks Vee.—
Allison McClain Merrill,
Parents,
27 Oct. 2025
-
It’s believed that the 13th-century castle is haunted by a magical imp who frequently visits the Markomanka and Hlíza, or black, towers.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bogeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bogeyman. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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