bugaboo
noun
bug·a·boo
ˈbə-gə-ˌbü 
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
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
The good news: Shelter prices, last year’s bugaboo, appear to be heading down, economists note.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Another looming bugaboo: Father Time, which Rocky says is undefeated.
—Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Two of the three losses came by submission, which has been her bugaboo throughout her professional career.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
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Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
The good news: Shelter prices, last year’s bugaboo, appear to be heading down, economists note.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Another looming bugaboo: Father Time, which Rocky says is undefeated.
—Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Two of the three losses came by submission, which has been her bugaboo throughout her professional career.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
Cite this Entry
“Bugaboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bugaboo. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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