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
This was a bugbear most prominently highlighted in the case of the U.S. naval surveillance activities in Chinese EEZ in particular.
—
Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Defense spending has been a thorny subject for NATO members for years, and a persistent bugbear for Trump.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 5 June 2025
Under his leadership, Michigan had a robust Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program — a bugbear for Republicans — until announcing in March that it would be dismantled.
—Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for bugbear
Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Defense spending has been a thorny subject for NATO members for years, and a persistent bugbear for Trump.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 5 June 2025
Under his leadership, Michigan had a robust Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program — a bugbear for Republicans — until announcing in March that it would be dismantled.
—Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for bugbear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugbear
Noun
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In this case, there’s that feeling of dread.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Yeah, there’s just a dread, isn’t there?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Symptoms vary among people but can include fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
But the fitter and sharper Isak becomes, the selection headaches will follow.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
Noun
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And with a team that has not been the biggest thorn in their side over the last 15 seasons.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Though often a thorn in conservatives’ side, Kennedy nevertheless regularly voted with the court’s right-leaning bloc.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The students, identified by police as Kyle Anderson and Samuel Patten, both 18, were each charged with burglary in the second degree as a hate crime and criminal nuisance in the second degree, police said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
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The insects can be a nuisance but won't cause structural damage or harm you.—
Andrea Beck,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Antifa is now a 'domestic terror group' Trump declared Antifa a domestic terror organization in a new White House Executive Order signed Monday evening.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
-
He was charged with having a weapon at a public assembly or rally and going armed to the terror of people, both misdemeanors.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While the frustration with the start of his season was valid, Williams may have gotten back on course against the Cowboys.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Parsons’ frustration with the process throughout training camp likely factored into the final decision.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But there’s one old-school hobgoblin that’s lurking around the edges of this narrative, omnipresent, repeated across a number of notable new titles, but still somehow avoiding the limelight: the witch.—
Payton McCarty-Simas,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Aug. 2025
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Sailing teaches us that being an honorable competitor is more important than being a top competitor because while every race is there to lose, luck is the omnipresent hobgoblin.—
Conor Mastromarco,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Bugbear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugbear. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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