as in dread
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason
doing one's tax returns is a real bugaboo for a lot of people
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bugaboo
Of course, his biggest bugaboo has been his Strokes Gained: Around the Green.
—
Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
Hispanic 2025-26 Upfront: Digital Expansion Plans & WBTV Hispanic Stream Launch
Debt has been the company’s bugaboo since Discovery acquired Warner Media three years ago.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 May 2025
Range anxiety, the bugaboo of all-electric driving, is even more frightening for all-electric flying, where running out of power has worse consequences than having to pull over to the side of the road.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 June 2017
One of the chief bugaboos for fossil fuel interests is a movement among the states to create Superfund-like programs that would require polluters to pay for damages caused by climate change disasters.
—Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
Hispanic 2025-26 Upfront: Digital Expansion Plans & WBTV Hispanic Stream Launch
Debt has been the company’s bugaboo since Discovery acquired Warner Media three years ago.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 May 2025
Range anxiety, the bugaboo of all-electric driving, is even more frightening for all-electric flying, where running out of power has worse consequences than having to pull over to the side of the road.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 June 2017
One of the chief bugaboos for fossil fuel interests is a movement among the states to create Superfund-like programs that would require polluters to pay for damages caused by climate change disasters.
—Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugaboo
Noun
-
As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
16 July 2025
-
Anyone who has broken in a pair of sandals knows the dread of a blister after a day of walking, but that’s not an issue with this pair.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
People.com,
16 July 2025
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
Sami Al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor who is associated with the Gaza Tribunal, admitted to conspiring to aid the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group in 2006.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
12 July 2025
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Gaza would be razed, much like Dresden or Hiroshima, in order to eliminate the danger of terror attacks on Israel coming from Gaza.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Climate change, poverty, the savaged middle class, plagues and the rise of A.I. need to be faced now with far more vigor than when they were first realized back in my youth.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
16 July 2025
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What’s the difference between bubonic and pneumonic plague?—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
The Hogs star carded six birdies and two bogeys (68) during the final round to run away with the title.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 July 2025
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England’s Matt Fitzpatrick sits one stroke behind Li at nine-under overall after shooting even-par 71, the boost of a stunning chip-in eagle dampened by three bogeys across the back nine.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
19 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bugaboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugaboo. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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