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
Another looming bugaboo: Father Time, which Rocky says is undefeated.
—
Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for bugaboo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugaboo
Noun
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As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 June 2025
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Does the thought of snakes gliding through the air at frightening speeds fill you with dread?—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
31 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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Hamas and other militant groups kidnapped 251 people from Israel during the October 7, 2023 terror attacks.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
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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
Noun
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The pathogen has fueled three major plague pandemics since the first century AD, and though its deadliest years appear to be behind us, plague hasn’t disappeared.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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The results revealed that pla depletion decreases the virulence and increases the length of plague infections in mice.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
31 May 2025
Noun
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Homa actually was one shot clear but a bogey on his final hole opened up a chance for the other four men.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
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There was little jeopardy during Sunday’s final round, even when Scheffler ended 31 holes without a bogey on the 10th hole which dropped his lead to just one shot.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bugaboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugaboo. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
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