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
Without Anthony Davis, the Warriors’ biggest (literally) bugaboo wouldn’t be a factor.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Next week, George was trained as a chef, but he's got one frustrating bugaboo in the kitchen.
—Bon Appétit, 20 Feb. 2025
Can James Franklin officially shed the big-game bugaboo?
—Chris Branch, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Three-pointer propensity and lack of defense are the two main bugaboos observers point to.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Next week, George was trained as a chef, but he's got one frustrating bugaboo in the kitchen.
—Bon Appétit, 20 Feb. 2025
Can James Franklin officially shed the big-game bugaboo?
—Chris Branch, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Three-pointer propensity and lack of defense are the two main bugaboos observers point to.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugaboo
Noun
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Our familiar route turned into an obstacle course of dread, and every step toward the school building sent him deeper into a panicked spiral.—
Elizabeth Austin,
Time,
26 Mar. 2025
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Once the innie enters the room, it is forced to engage in an activity which coincides with things Gemma fears (going to the dentist, airplane turbulence) or dreads (writing thank-you cards).—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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One of Trump’s biggest bugbears is the U.S. trade deficits with a number of key trading partners, including Canada and the EU.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2025
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The fiscal policy has proved to be a persistent political bugbear for Berlin, with arguments between parties over the extent to which the debt brake ensures responsible spending, or limits growth and investment.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The disclosure came in filings from the Manhattan district attorney’s office responding to requests by Mangione’s lawyers ahead of his trial on murder and terror offenses stemming from the Dec. 4 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2025
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In a shocking report published March 24, Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, revealed that he was accidentally added to a group chat in which very senior government officials planned a strike on the Houthi terror group in Yemen earlier this month.—
Ben Sales,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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At the peak of the injury plague striking the Magic in January, third-year pro Caleb Houstan served as a spot-starter and joined Orlando‘s rotation as part of the second unit.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2025
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On the north side of this strong storm system, wintry precipitation continues to plague parts of the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and New England.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In just a matter of minutes, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy had flipped a three-shot deficit into a two-shot lead as Hovland calmly closed out the victory with a bogey on the last.—
Kevin Sabet,
Newsweek,
24 Mar. 2025
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Glover is joined at 9-under by Alex Smalley, who made three bogeys in his last 10 holes after playing the first 45 of the week with just one.—
Justin Ray,
The Athletic,
16 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bugaboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugaboo. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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