bogeyman
noun
bo·gey·man
ˈbu̇-gē-ˌman 
ˈbō-
ˈbō-
ˈbü-,
ˈbu̇-gər-
variants
or less commonly bogyman
1
: a monstrous imaginary figure used in threatening children
2
: a terrifying or dreaded person or thing : bugbear
Examples of bogeyman in a Sentence
My aunt used to say to my sister and me, “The bogeyman will get you if you're bad.”
a politician who is the familiar bogeyman of conservatives
Recent Examples on the Web
Voter fraud and multiple votes by the same person in a single election is a largely nonexistent bogeyman of Trump’s.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
That nation is, for Netanyahu, the longest-standing bogeyman.
—Mick Krever, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025
While the progressive Left has made the Jewish state and the Middle East’s only democracy an international bogeyman, more centrist Democrats are still big supporters.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Donald Whitfield might be the man who owns the lien, but the real bogeyman here is the federal government.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bogeyman
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
That nation is, for Netanyahu, the longest-standing bogeyman.
—Mick Krever, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025
While the progressive Left has made the Jewish state and the Middle East’s only democracy an international bogeyman, more centrist Democrats are still big supporters.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Donald Whitfield might be the man who owns the lien, but the real bogeyman here is the federal government.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bogeyman
Cite this Entry
“Bogeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bogeyman. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bogeyman
noun
bo·gey·man
ˈbu̇g-ē-ˌman
ˈbō-gē-
ˈbō-gē-
ˈbü-gē-
1
: an imaginary monster used in threatening children
2
: a terrifying or dreaded person or thing
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