1 bugaboo | Definition of bugaboo

bugaboo

noun
bug·​a·​boo | \ ˈbÉ™-gÉ™-ËŒbü How to pronounce bugaboo (audio) \
plural bugaboos

Definition of bugaboo

1 : an imaginary object of fear
2 : bugbear sense 2 also : something that causes fear or distress out of proportion to its importance

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Examples of bugaboo in a Sentence

politicians complaining about that old bugaboo, high oil prices doing one's tax returns are a real bugaboo for some people

Recent Examples on the Web

That leaves just two meme adaptation bugaboos: copyright and story. Julie Muncy, WIRED, "Why the Momo Challenge Film Might Beat the Meme Movie Curse," 12 July 2019 Notably absent from his long list of perps are trial lawyers, the preferred bugaboo of the right. Seth Stern, Washington Post, "A venture capitalist’s solutions for our troubled legal system," 7 June 2019 Masisi also rescinded the shoot-to-kill anti-poaching policy and is advocating, together with neighbors Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, for the legal resumption of that bugaboo of the conservation world, the ivory trade. Klara Glowczewska, Town & Country, "Elephant Hunting Has Returned to Botswana. But There Is a Way to Stop It.," 6 June 2019 And in the Orioles’ 5-3 loss to the Mariners, that was the bugaboo for Castro again. Eduardo A. Encina, baltimoresun.com, "Reliever Miguel Castro's walks hurt Orioles in 5-3 loss to Mariners," 25 June 2018 What the Spurs do give a damn about is their inability to win on the road lately and an old bugaboo that resurfaced at the Staples Center: porous fourth quarter defense. Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, "Spurs’ road woes continue with fourth quarter meltdown," 4 Apr. 2018 Then, all of Cashner’s greatest bugaboos this season coalesced in the sixth inning, which turned a would-be win into a no-decision. Jon Meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Trumbo's 8th-inning single breaks tie, helps Orioles end 7-game slide by beating Royals, 5-3," 10 May 2018 If Obama favored net neutrality, congressional Republicans were opposed, and the formerly technocratic issue became a right-wing bugaboo. Andrew Rice, WIRED, "This Is Ajit Pai, Nemesis of Net Neutrality," 16 May 2018 The former is a bugaboo for U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, the latter for Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans. Drew Broach, NOLA.com, "Facebook moves to audit its political bias, treatment of minorities," 7 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bugaboo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of bugaboo

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for bugaboo

earlier buggybow, bugger-bo, of unknown origin

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More Definitions for bugaboo

bugaboo

noun

English Language Learners Definition of bugaboo

US, often disapproving : something that makes people very worried or upset

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More from Merriam-Webster on bugaboo

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with bugaboo

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bugaboo

Spanish Central: Translation of bugaboo

Nglish: Translation of bugaboo for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of bugaboo for Arabic Speakers