'Bugbear' definitions:
Definition of 'bugbear'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'Bugbear'
From: GCIDE
- Bugbear \Bug"bear`\, n. Same as Bugaboo. -- a. Causing needless fright. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Bugbear'
From: GCIDE
- Bugbear \Bug"bear`\, v. t. To alarm with idle phantoms. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Bugbear'
From: GCIDE
- Bugaboo \Bug`a*boo"\, Bugbear \Bug"bear`\, n. [See Bug.] Something frightful, as a specter; anything imaginary that causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear; also, something really dangerous, or an imaginary monster, used to frighten children, etc. "Bugaboos to fright ye." --Lloyd. [1913 Webster]
- But, to the world no bugbear is so great As want of figure and a small estate. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- The bugaboo of the liberals is the church pray. --S. B. Griffin. [1913 Webster]
- The great bugaboo of the birds is the owl. --J. Burroughs. [1913 Webster]
- 2. a source of concern; as, the old bugaboo of inflation still bothers them. [WordNet 1.5]
- Syn: Hobgoblin; goblin; specter; ogre; scarecrow; bogeyman; boogeyman; booger. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'bugbear'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- affliction,
- anathema,
- bane,
- bete noire,
- bogey,
- bogeyman,
- boggart,
- bogle,
- bogy,
- booger,
- boogerman,
- boogeyman,
- bug,
- bugaboo,
- bugger,
- burden,
- calamity,
- crushing burden,
- cry of wolf,
- curse,
- death,
- destruction,
- detestation,
- disease,
- Dracula,
- dud,
- evil,
- false alarm,
- fee-faw-fum,
- Frankenstein,
- frightener,
- ghost,
- ghoul,
- grievance,
- harm,
- hate,
- hobgoblin,
- holy terror,
- horror,
- incubus,
- infliction,
- monster,
- Mumbo Jumbo,
- nemesis,
- nightmare,
- ogre,
- ogress,
- open wound,
- pest,
- pestilence,
- phantom,
- plague,
- revenant,
- running sore,
- scarebabe,
- scarecrow,
- scarer,
- scourge,
- specter,
- succubus,
- terror,
- thorn,
- torment,
- vampire,
- vexation,
- visitation,
- werewolf,
- woe,
- Wolf-man