1
as in dread
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason
communism was once the nation's biggest bugbear
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
hated all the bugbears of modern life, especially those long commutes to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bugbear
Duffy’s bugbears include the aforementioned fisticuffs, a lack of pleases and thank yous for staff, and the reluctance of current passengers to help the aged, the infirm, and the pregnant.
—
Raven Smith, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
Low volumes of trading has been a common bugbear for foreign investors looking at investing in Tadawul.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Another bugbear: Bigger U.S. distributors now rarely pre-buy movies, taking them out of the film financing equation.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
There is a financial crisis brewing in China, but the usual bugbears of the stock market, declining exports, and even the yuan crash are only appetizers, not the main course.
—Salvatore Babones, Foreign Affairs, 16 Aug. 2015
See All Example Sentences for bugbear
Raven Smith, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
Low volumes of trading has been a common bugbear for foreign investors looking at investing in Tadawul.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Another bugbear: Bigger U.S. distributors now rarely pre-buy movies, taking them out of the film financing equation.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
There is a financial crisis brewing in China, but the usual bugbears of the stock market, declining exports, and even the yuan crash are only appetizers, not the main course.
—Salvatore Babones, Foreign Affairs, 16 Aug. 2015
See All Example Sentences for bugbear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugbear
Noun
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Mirror images except for the fact that Jelani has his hair in dreads, while Ari goes with the more retro-look afro.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
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Shoppers who fluctuate between sizes, dread sitting in rigid denim, have arthritis, and are in the early stages of pregnancy also give the jeans a thumbs-up for their flexible fit, breathable fabric, and easy pull-on design.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Major industry groups including the American Petroleum Institute have not fought to kill the federal endangerment finding, because a patchwork of state laws could ultimately replace it — leading to legal headaches and a raft of nuisance lawsuits against them, experts said.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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Gone are the days of worrying that your vitamins or headache medication accidentally spilled all over the bottom of the bag; this style has two layers of defense.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Purdy’s biggest bugaboo could be interceptions.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
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Now, for one of their chief bugaboos — a primary culprit for the mediocre record through 32 games.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
25 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The question over how Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement will impact the World Cup — when millions are expected to visit — remains a thorn in FIFA’s side.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Let’s go through your roses and thorns for some of the show’s most iconic scenes.—
Reshma Gopaldas,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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What first reads like random abuse escalates into a relentless campaign of terror against Mats and his family, as the situation begins to uncover a dark, multi-layered story rooted more than 40 years earlier.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
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But also the pesky ones, like your terror and your existential dread.—
Catherine Mevs,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Honeysuckle is considered a nuisance by many homeowners.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
19 Feb. 2026
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This list includes invasive species that spread across the landscape, smothering everything in their path (like kudzu, of course), as well as fast-growing native species, like trumpet vine and Virginia creeper, which spread quickly and can become a nuisance in yards and gardens.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Unlike the win in ‘80 that brought together a nation for an extended period in the face of foreign enemies, now those adversaries are our neighbors, or family members.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Feb. 2026
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His title was removed for being an enemy of Britain under the 1917 act, which was enacted in 1919, once the war was over.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There are different reasons a person might want to scream, whether they have been told to stay silent about abuse experienced as a child, or have been dismissed or ignored as an adult, or are struggling with a political landscape that has exacerbated feelings of fear, anger and frustration.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
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Hudson described the frustration of being pigeonholed by an industry that struggled to see her outside the genre.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bugbear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugbear. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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