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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bugaboo
Layups and free throws were Golden State’s biggest bugaboos during its 7-17 spell.
—
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Howells secures the double for the weekend with this win, and needs to get over his singles bugaboo to push for a triple crown.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Without Anthony Davis, the Warriors’ biggest (literally) bugaboo wouldn’t be a factor.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Next week, George was trained as a chef, but he's got one frustrating bugaboo in the kitchen.
—Bon Appétit, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Howells secures the double for the weekend with this win, and needs to get over his singles bugaboo to push for a triple crown.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Without Anthony Davis, the Warriors’ biggest (literally) bugaboo wouldn’t be a factor.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Next week, George was trained as a chef, but he's got one frustrating bugaboo in the kitchen.
—Bon Appétit, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugaboo
Noun
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When the slasher eventually appears, stealing the group’s car before murdering them with a humorous bluntness, there is also a real atmosphere of dread.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
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But his ailment looked to be grave enough to warrant dread.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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One of Trump’s longstanding bugbears has been America’s trade deficits with its neighbors and competitors including Canada, China, Mexico and the European Union.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2025
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Kuo also said the iPhone Fold, as it likely won’t be called, will address the biggest bugbear for folders: a too-visible crease in the internal display when it’s opened.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The incidents have dramatically increased after Oct. 7 (Hamas terror attacks), but the trend was already increasing prior to that.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
22 Apr. 2025
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The gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history and the worst domestic terror attack on Hispanics that the country has ever seen.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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While there is indeed connective tissue between the many forms of hate that plague our society, each has its own contours, and there are moments that demand addressing each one specifically – this is such a moment for antisemitism.—
Sara Colb,
Boston Herald,
16 Apr. 2025
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When plague struck again, only 18 ferrets remained.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Modesto, California, native made there his seventh birdie of the day, adding an eagle and a bogey to finish at 8-under for the round.—
Mark Weinstein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Apr. 2025
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Play it safe, punch it back into the fairway, take your bogey and move on.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bugaboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugaboo. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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