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
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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 question of how to fly with a cello is a bugbear among many string players.
—
John Phipps, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
European leaders this week also discussed the thorny issue of future funding for the country, which is a bugbear for Trump.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2025
Duffy’s bugbears include the aforementioned fisticuffs, a lack of pleases and thank yous for staff, and the reluctance of current passengers to help the aged, the infirm, and the pregnant.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
Low volumes of trading has been a common bugbear for foreign investors looking at investing in Tadawul.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bugbear
John Phipps, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
European leaders this week also discussed the thorny issue of future funding for the country, which is a bugbear for Trump.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2025
Duffy’s bugbears include the aforementioned fisticuffs, a lack of pleases and thank yous for staff, and the reluctance of current passengers to help the aged, the infirm, and the pregnant.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
Low volumes of trading has been a common bugbear for foreign investors looking at investing in Tadawul.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bugbear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugbear
Noun
-
Brith, filled with a sudden dread, stands very still, watching it, and the dog, sensing something, emits a low growl.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
Her smile in the fantasy is one of relief and clarity, which cuts so hard after watching the dread pile up before Leslie notices her.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
People in the trial reported similar side effects to those from mRNA Covid vaccines — flu-like symptoms including chills and headaches — that only lasted a couple of days.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
-
That has the potential to cause real headaches for Carolina, especially with how the former two have played.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
En route to finally winning a Super Bowl, the Colts were finally getting the upper hand on their longtime bugaboo, the Brady-Bill Belichick Patriots.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
Five batters into Sunday’s game and the home run bugaboo that plagued Imanaga last season delivered a sense of déjà vu to the 33,559 fans in attendance at Wrigley Field.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Other diamonds have spikier settings resembling thorns.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
-
Even with Wembanyama’s greatness, this series might come down to Castle’s ability to be a thorn for the two-time MVP.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Such moves would severely disrupt Iran’s plan to use their proxy, Yemen’s Houthi terror group, to attack Red Sea shipping.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
-
Names like Sednaya, and those of other sites run by the military and air force intelligence directorates, marked the boundaries of terror within which an entire society was held captive.—
Amer Matar,
The Dial,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Plaskolite was cited for causing a public nuisance, according to AQMD documents.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
When to See a Doctor For the vast majority of new parents, dry skin is a temporary, frustrating nuisance that resolves as your hormones stabilize and your body adjusts to its new rhythm.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
And both of them with the ability and desire to defend and scramble, and the hunger to attack at the first opportunity without letting a perfect ball be the enemy of the good.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
Capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5 while maneuvering in flight, these weapons are designed to compress enemy reaction times and evade many traditional missile defense systems.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Teachers, nurses and doctors across the country regularly sound alarms about being overworked and underfunded, and many end up leaving their public jobs in frustration at impossible conditions.—
Ola Morris Innset,
The Dial,
2 June 2026
-
Big Pharma is betting that its messaging machine can outlast public frustration — lawmakers should call their bluff.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bugbear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugbear. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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