bogeyman

noun

bo·​gey·​man ˈbu̇-gē-ˌman  ˈbō- 

ˈbü-,

ˈbu̇-gər- 

variants or less commonly bogyman

1

: a monstrous imaginary figure used in threatening children

2

: a terrifying or dreaded person or thing : bugbear

Examples of bogeyman in a Sentence

My aunt used to say to my sister and me, “The bogeyman will get you if you're bad.”

a politician who is the familiar bogeyman of conservatives

Recent Examples on the Web

But South dismissed the possibility of Democrats’ identity and messaging problems after last year’s election being exacerbated by Musk’s departure and his absence as a bogeyman. —Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 1 June 2025

Sam: Bruno Fernandes is the bogeyman, plain and simple. —Carl Anka, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025

Musk has become a bogeyman for Democrats, who say his cuts to government are slipshod and putting Americans at risk. —Tara Suter, The Hill, 19 Mar. 2025

In lesser hands, the family’s unfortunately topical adversaries could be but straw bogeymen or non pareil Darth Vaders. —Emily Temple may 27, Literary Hub, 27 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bogeyman

• businessman
• canavan
• caravan
• constantan
• dragoman
• fisherman
• handyman
• harmattan
• journeyman
• marianne
• middleman
• minivan

Kids Definition

bogeyman

noun

bo·​gey·​man ˈbu̇g-ē-ˌman  ˈbō-gē- 

ˈbü-gē-

1

: an imaginary monster used in threatening children

2

: a terrifying or dreaded person or thing