bugbear

1 something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason communism was once the nation's biggest bugbear Synonyms of bugbear bête noire, black beast, bugaboo, bogey, dread, hobgoblin, ogreWords Related to bugbear apparition, ghost, phantasm (also fantasm), phantom, poltergeist, shade, specter (or spectre), spirit, spook, wraith; banshee, bogeyman (also bogyman), demon (or daemon), devil, fiend, ghoul, imp, incubus; fright, horrible, horror, monster, monstrosity, terror; bane, curse, enemy, plague, scourge, torment; abomination, anathema

2 something that is a source of irritation hated all the bugbears of modern life, especially those long commutes to work Synonyms of bugbear aggravation, aggro [British], bother, botheration, annoyance, exasperation, frustration, hair shirt, hassle, headache, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, rub, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexationWords Related to bugbear discomfort, fleabite, pinprick; affront, insult, offense (or offence); upset, worry; affliction, albatross, burden, cross, curse, menace, millstone, plague, sore; anxiety, plight, predicament, tribulation, trouble; hang-up, pet peeve, problem; annoyer, disturber, harasser, mischief, offender; pandora's boxNear Antonyms of bugbear delight, joy, pleasure