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
Synonyms
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
And despite getting Anthony Rizzo to pop up for the second out, the long-ball bugaboo bit him against Volpe.
—
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
Durability is an age-old bugaboo of vaccine designers.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 11 Oct. 2024
Cusack is serial killer Robert Hansen, who murdered at least 17 women in the Alaskan bush; Cage is the cop trying to take him down, only to be stymied by that old movie bugaboo, lack of evidence.
—Emily Heller, Vulture, 12 July 2024
Carbon Dioxide is often vilified as a bugaboo greenhouse gas.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bugaboo 
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Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
Durability is an age-old bugaboo of vaccine designers.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 11 Oct. 2024
Cusack is serial killer Robert Hansen, who murdered at least 17 women in the Alaskan bush; Cage is the cop trying to take him down, only to be stymied by that old movie bugaboo, lack of evidence.
—Emily Heller, Vulture, 12 July 2024
Carbon Dioxide is often vilified as a bugaboo greenhouse gas.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bugaboo
Dictionary Entries Near bugaboo
Cite this Entry
“Bugaboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bugaboo. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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