1
as in dread
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason
communism was once the nation's biggest bugbear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
hated all the bugbears of modern life, especially those long commutes to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bugbear
The billionaire’s post on his social network X referred specifically to a Trump executive order ending federal diversity, equity and inclusion mandates — a longtime bugbear of world’s richest person, who runs six companies and has railed against DEI efforts for years.
—
Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 21 Jan. 2025
The new Conservative government, intent on reducing the deficit, cut deep and broad, slashing spending not just on party bugbears like welfare but also on public budgets for investment.
—Josh Holder, New York Times, 3 July 2024
Another bugbear on Teams can come if you’ve been invited to a pre-arranged meeting, or left a meeting partway through, but still receive notifications every time a message is typed into the chat box of the ongoing meeting.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2020
Those claims play into concerns about government overreach, a common right-wing bugbear.
—Ben Guarino, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bugbear
Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 21 Jan. 2025
The new Conservative government, intent on reducing the deficit, cut deep and broad, slashing spending not just on party bugbears like welfare but also on public budgets for investment.
—Josh Holder, New York Times, 3 July 2024
Another bugbear on Teams can come if you’ve been invited to a pre-arranged meeting, or left a meeting partway through, but still receive notifications every time a message is typed into the chat box of the ongoing meeting.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2020
Those claims play into concerns about government overreach, a common right-wing bugbear.
—Ben Guarino, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bugbear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugbear
Noun
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And Answers For Thursday, March 20 Design your location deliberately Live somewhere that inspires you, not fills you with dread.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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Its wartime atmosphere gives it a sense of dread all its own and its set pieces are all doozies, especially the Statue of Liberty climax.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Avantree Cord Organizer $7 at Amazon Cord clutter is a universal travel headache.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Mar. 2025
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While blazes like this one can be a major headache for people, fire is also a critical part of South Florida’s ecosystem — particularly the Everglades.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Two of the three losses came by submission, which has been her bugaboo throughout her professional career.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Layups and free throws were Golden State’s biggest bugaboos during its 7-17 spell.—
Danny Emerman,
The Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In the past two seasons, the Nuggets have been a thorn in the Lakers' side, being eliminated by Denver in the playoffs.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
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Property taxes are a thorn in the side of homeowners.—
Maddie McGay,
USA TODAY,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In a meeting that month which Dahl recorded, Turner referred to Williams as a nuisance who had already been dealt with.—
Ronan Farrow,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025
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However, residents argue that the alligator, who had been sunning beside a pond on the property for more than a decade, was not a nuisance but that his fate was in fact decided by the new management, who thought the wild animal posed a risk to residents.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 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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Gottlieb went on to clearly express frustration on being the number four No. 1 seed selected.—
Allison Smith,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
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In one post, a former colleague expresses frustration that the book seems to take credit for his efforts at the company.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Sailing teaches us that being an honorable competitor is more important than being a top competitor because while every race is there to lose, luck is the omnipresent hobgoblin.—
Conor Mastromarco,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Nov. 2024
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Gleeson’s Puck is a malevolent hobgoblin who serves as the royal jester to King Auberon of Faerie.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
2 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Bugbear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugbear. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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