1
as in elves
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers
in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, Puck is a hobgoblin who plays pranks such as spoiling milk and tripping old ladies
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in dreads
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason
the fear of success and the pressures that come with it can be more of a hobgoblin than the possibility of failure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hobgoblins
Noun
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Not as great of a kids’ parade as the one at Christmas with elves and Santa Claus and toys and snowmen.—
David McGrath,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026 -
The theft follows a similar incident in December, when members of the same group flooded into a Montreal grocery store dressed as Santa Clause and his elves, stealing food and leaving some of it gift-wrapped under a nearby Christmas tree.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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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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
Noun
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If witches have fall, then fairies have spring.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
12 Mar. 2026
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The pop start took to Instagram Stories to share that the fairies are guardian angels, and inspired by a favorite childhood book.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Film will ultimately survive as a medium even in the face of overwhelming terrors.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
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What could be worse than these twin terrors?—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Henson was cast as Hoggle, one of the film’s most prominent goblins and Sarah’s reluctant ally, while also managing puppeteering responsibilities behind the scenes.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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The kallikantzaroi are a group of blind, black goblins who live underground during most of the year sawing at the world tree – a motif throughout various folklores that connects the heavens to the Earth.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
20 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Shrek and Fiona are now both full-time ogres, but Fiona’s parents (John Cleese and Julie Andrews) aren’t too thrilled, as a particularly tense family dinner scene makes clear.—
Skyler Trepel September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At scale, this dwarfs data center optimization gains.—
Arjun Sharma,
IEEE Spectrum,
17 Feb. 2026
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The ditch that’s up to 19 feet deep dwarfs the heavy machinery inside of it.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Scheffler was thoroughly amused and looked to be in good spirits heading into Sunday.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2026
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The displays are meant to echo the rugged mountain paths of Ethiopia, Mexico, and Perú, places where children rise before dawn, walk miles to do their chores, and return home with soles bruised and spirits tested.—
Abraham Nudelstejer,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hobgoblins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hobgoblins. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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