boogeyman

[boog-ee-man, boo-gee-] / ˈbʊg iˌmæn, ˈbu gi- /

NOUN

bogey

Synonyms

STRONG

apparition bogeyman boggle bugaboo bugbear goblin hobgoblin monster phantasm phantasma phantom specter spirit spook visitant wraith

WEAK

bogle bogyman boogieman eidolon evil spirit

Antonyms

STRONG

being reality

NOUN

bogeyman

Synonyms

STRONG

apparition bogey bugaboo bugbear goblin hobgoblin monster phantasm phantasma phantom specter spirit spook visitant wraith

WEAK

boggle bogle bogyman boogieman eidolon evil spirit

Antonyms

STRONG

being reality

NOUN

bogle

Synonyms

WEAK

apparition bogey bogeyman boggle bogyman boogieman bugaboo bugbear eidolon evil spirit goblin hobgoblin monster phantasm phantasma phantom specter spirit spook visitant wraith

NOUN

bugbear

Synonyms

STRONG

apprehension bogey bogy bugaboo dread fear goblin gremlin hobgoblin loup-garou ogre problem scare specter terror threat wraith

Antonyms

STRONG

bravery calmness courage ease

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

What Mr. Ahamed withholds are the strong, respectable arguments to embrace, not to shun, the boogeyman that Federal Reserve economists style “deflation” but that a layman might rather recognize as human progress.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

Artificial intelligence could be the boogeyman that gnaws at market share.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

Craig said the characters’ frequent misinterpretations took on the role of the “monster,” since this is a horror movie without a true boogeyman.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2025

"I wasn't satisfied with just imagining this evil boogeyman who had done a horrible thing to me," she explained.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2025

I am the boogeyman parents use to get their children to behave.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

boogeyman

Example Sentences

Related Words