bogeyman

or bo·gy·man, boog·er·man, boog·ey·man, boog·ie·man

[ boo g-ee-man, boh-gee-, boo- ]

/ ˈbʊg iˌmæn, ˈboʊ gi-, ˈbu- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR bogeyman ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural bo·gey·men.

an imaginary evil character of supernatural powers, especially a mythical hobgoblin supposed to carry off naughty children.

Words nearby bogeyman

bogart, humphrey, bogbean, bogey, bogey hole, bogey-hole, bogeyman, boggart, bogger, bogging, boggle, boggle the mind

Origin of bogeyman

1885–90; bogey¹ (variant of bogy¹, in the sense “a hobgoblin, evil spirit”) + man¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for bogeyman

What went before, an interim framework agreement that caused a great deal of controversy, is no longer the bogeyman.
P5+1 Talks Drill Down On The Future Of Iran’s Nukes|Michael Adler|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Insurance is a large and varied industry, and frequently plays the heavy and bogeyman, especially the health insurers.
The Insurance Industry’s Liberal Turn|Daniel Gross|July 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“China has replaced Japan as the bogeyman of East Asia in terms of international investment,” said Milhaupt.
Softbank’s Acquisition of Sprint Latest Big Japanese Buy|Matthew Zeitlin|October 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Hamas remains the bogeyman, much as the PLO was, before Madrid and Oslo, but with some crucial differences.
Why the Left Should Not Call for Talks with Hamas|Don Futterman|August 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Decoding the laugh track of the CNN Debate in Arizona, featuring references to George Costanza and bogeyman Mike Dukakis.
Tactical Humorist: Gingrich Referees, Romney Channels Costanza, Santorum on Dukakis|Mark Katz|February 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for bogeyman

bogeyman

/ (ˈbəʊɡɪˌmæn) /

noun plural -men

a person, real or imaginary, used as a threat, esp to children

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

bogeyman

or bo·gy·man, boog·er·man, boog·ey·man, boog·ie·man

noun, plural bo·gey·men.

Words related to bogeyman

Words nearby bogeyman

Origin of bogeyman

Examples from the Web for bogeyman

British Dictionary definitions for bogeyman

noun plural -men