Thesaurus results for BUGABOO

bugaboo

noun

ˈbə-gə-ˌbü

as in dread

something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason doing one's tax returns is a real bugaboo for a lot of people

Synonyms & Similar 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 bugaboo Getting stops should be Denver’s biggest bugaboo without Gordon and Braun. —

Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2025 James went down a lengthy list of bugaboos that hurt the Chargers, including but not limited to 14 penalties totaling 107 yards, the Giants’ 7-for-15 efficiency on third downs, a lackluster start that featured deficits of 10-0 and 13-3 in the first half and a failure to force a New York turnover. —

Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 28 Sep. 2025 Recent evidence points to the Marlins being the kind of bugaboo for the New York teams, who face differing degrees of difficulty in their quests to become division winners. —

Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Instead, the world over will have to increase more reliable energy sources, particularly coal, natural gas and that other bugaboo of environmentalists, nuclear energy. —

Peter Murphy, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bugaboo

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugaboo

Noun

As your host, Lizzie Burder makes for very enjoyable company, deftly mixing child-like enthusiasm with just enough frantic dread to convince you that this whole operation could turn dangerous at any moment.

— Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 7 Mar. 2026
The golf world watched the final stretch with that familiar mixture of tension and dread.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026