bugaboo

noun

bug·​a·​boo ˈbə-gə-ˌbü How to pronounce bugaboo (audio)
plural bugaboos
1
: an imaginary object of fear
2
: bugbear sense 2
also : something that causes fear or distress out of proportion to its importance

Examples of bugaboo in a Sentence

politicians complaining about that old bugaboo, high oil prices doing one's tax returns is a real bugaboo for a lot of people
Recent Examples on the Web Carbon Dioxide is often vilified as a bugaboo greenhouse gas. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 In this innovative and original home, the most surprising room of all may be on the top floor, a studio/guest room/sauna where that old bugaboo of knotty pine is raised to new heights of chic, giving it the feel and fragrance of a Swiss ski chalet. Michael Boodro, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2024 There's one bugaboo, however: The devices ship with Android 14 rather than Android 15. Iyaz Akhtar, PCMAG, 13 Aug. 2024 Speech delays There weren’t teleprompter flubs or wardrobe malfunctions, but getting access to one’s acceptance speech turned out to be the biggest bugaboo of the show. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for bugaboo 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bugaboo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

earlier buggybow, bugger-bo, of unknown origin

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bugaboo was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near bugaboo

Cite this Entry

“Bugaboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bugaboo. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

bugaboo

noun
bug·​a·​boo ˈbəg-ə-ˌbü How to pronounce bugaboo (audio)
plural bugaboos

More from Merriam-Webster on bugaboo

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