BUGBEARS Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

bugbears

noun

plural of bugbear

as in dreads

something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason communism was once the nation's biggest bugbear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in headaches

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 bugbears The bugbears of this season — wasting promising chances (though Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce deserves credit for many of those) and some vulnerability to counter-attacks — remained. —

Cerys Jones, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugbears

Noun

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
But the have-funs and the have-existential-dreads of the hockey community are every bit as clear.

— Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026