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
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But the specter of layoffs remains hypothetical for now, and is part of Johnson’s ongoing messaging to hit back at City Council in the weeks leading up to and following his defeat in a 30-18 vote.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
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Henderson plays several roles and keeps appearing as specter throughout the proceedings to comment and call back to the play.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Nas sounds hungry again, his dense, circular writing a tangle of flashbacks and evocative images of preachers rebuking demons and Yoda smoking blunts.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
8 Jan. 2026
-
With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 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
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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
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Kids can trick-or-treat at Calico Ghost Town shops and businesses before the sun falls and ghouls fill the park.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
29 Dec. 2025
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No disrespect to Purnell, who perfectly calibrated Lucy’s intrinsic hopefulness in the first season and slowly begins to curdle it this go-round as Lucy spends more time among ghouls, raiders, cannibals, and various other feuding factions.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
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
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There has been a phantom haunting this Matlock season.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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The other lives in New Jersey and is accused of talking about a potential terror attack in Boston during a livestream.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Esmé, along with many patrons and staff, experienced the terror and chaos of the event firsthand.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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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 11 Jan. 2026.
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