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Definitions

boogeyman

[boog-ee-man, boo-gee-] / ˈbʊg iˌmæn, ˈbu gi- /
NOUN
bogey
Synonyms
STRONG
apparition bogeyman boggle bugaboo bugbear goblin hobgoblin monster phantasm phantasma phantom specter spirit spook visitant wraith
WEAK
bogle bogyman boogieman eidolon evil spirit
Antonyms
STRONG
being reality
NOUN
bogeyman
Synonyms
STRONG
apparition bogey bugaboo bugbear goblin hobgoblin monster phantasm phantasma phantom specter spirit spook visitant wraith
WEAK
boggle bogle bogyman boogieman eidolon evil spirit
Antonyms
STRONG
being reality
NOUN
bogle
Synonyms
WEAK
apparition bogey bogeyman boggle bogyman boogieman bugaboo bugbear eidolon evil spirit goblin hobgoblin monster phantasm phantasma phantom specter spirit spook visitant wraith
NOUN
bugbear
Synonyms
STRONG
apprehension bogey bogy bugaboo dread fear goblin gremlin hobgoblin loup-garou ogre problem scare specter terror threat wraith
Antonyms
STRONG
bravery calmness courage ease

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The market is seeing a boogeyman that frankly doesn’t exist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

Artificial intelligence could be the boogeyman that gnaws at market share.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

"I wasn't satisfied with just imagining this evil boogeyman who had done a horrible thing to me," she explained.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2025

With Moses as boogeyman, we are spared the more challenging question: Why did his worst decisions seem like such great ideas to so many people in the first place?

From Slate • Sep. 16, 2024

The boogeyman has disappeared, but that doesn’t stop the pain.

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.