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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bugaboo
Two of the three losses came by submission, which has been her bugaboo throughout her professional career.
—
Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Layups and free throws were Golden State’s biggest bugaboos during its 7-17 spell.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Howells secures the double for the weekend with this win, and needs to get over his singles bugaboo to push for a triple crown.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Without Anthony Davis, the Warriors’ biggest (literally) bugaboo wouldn’t be a factor.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Layups and free throws were Golden State’s biggest bugaboos during its 7-17 spell.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Howells secures the double for the weekend with this win, and needs to get over his singles bugaboo to push for a triple crown.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Without Anthony Davis, the Warriors’ biggest (literally) bugaboo wouldn’t be a factor.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugaboo
Noun
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At night, the power was often cut, and guards would scream threats into the darkness, heightening dread and disorientation.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2025
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Anxiety is a feeling of fear and dread, often triggered by stressful situations, uncertainty, and perceived threats.12 People whose anxiety does not go away or gets worse over time may have an anxiety disorder.—
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
19 May 2025
Noun
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One of Trump’s longstanding bugbears has been America’s trade deficits with its neighbors and competitors including Canada, China, Mexico and the European Union.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2025
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Kuo also said the iPhone Fold, as it likely won’t be called, will address the biggest bugbear for folders: a too-visible crease in the internal display when it’s opened.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In the trailer, LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Ackles) is recruited to be part of an elite team tasked with preventing a large scale terror attack in Los Angeles.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
28 May 2025
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Hamas and other militant groups kidnapped 251 people from Israel during the October 7, 2023 terror attacks.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Now, Georgas is looking for more action to be taken as the issue continues to plague girls' sports in Illinois and hopes the recent Naperville incident will be a turning point.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
21 May 2025
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The Book of Exodus details the 10 plagues that God inflicted upon the Egyptian pharaoh and his people, including swarms of locusts, an infestation of frogs and an outbreak of boils.—
Dan Barry,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Noun
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Playing in the first group, Wong birdied the second hole and made up for his lone mistake (a bogey on No. 3) with birdies at seven and 11 to maintain a slim lead.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
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Riebe carded the day’s wildest round, which included a double bogey, three bogeys, four birdies and an eagle.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bugaboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugaboo. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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