EN

Synonyms for bug-bear

  • noun
  • British English

Most common

bug-a-boo goblin booger antipathy ogre bug whang-doodle bogy

Synonyms by meaning

Noun

1. Bug-a-boo — A generic creature, often described as a large goblin, meant to inspire fear in children

bug-a-boo, bogeyman, booger, goblin, boogeyman, boogie

2. Anathema — A source of dread; resentment; or irritation

anathema, bête noire, antipathy

3. Hobgoblin

hobgoblin, ogre, ghoul

Other

bug, pet peeve informal, scarecrow, spectre UK, specter US, bogy, whang-doodle

Definitions

  1. n. 1

    A source of dread; resentment; or irritation.

  2. n. 2

    A generic creature, often described as a large goblin, meant to inspire fear in children.

  3. n. 3

    An ongoing problem; a recurring obstacle or adversity.

Related words

Other spellings
bugbear

Forms

Plural
bug-bears → bug-a-boos, bogeymen, boogers, goblins…

Example sentences

  • goblin You're dressed up all nice and I'm a goblin today.
  • booger He put a booger in his mouth, yuck!
  • antipathy I experienced a feeling of antipathy towards the speaker.
  • ogre No one can dare to tell the ogre that his mouth stinks.
  • bug Sami gave Layla a drink that had a dead bug in it.

By length

3 letters
bug1
4 letters
ogre2, bogy
5 letters
ghoul1
6 letters
boogie2, goblin2, booger
7 letters
spectre2, specter2
8 letters
anathema4, bogeyman3
9 letters
scarecrow2, antipathy4, boogeyman, hobgoblin

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (ogre2 = 2 syllables).