bogeyman
or bo·gy·man, boog·er·man, boog·ey·man, boog·ie·man
[boo g-ee-man, boh-gee-, boo-]
noun, plural bo·gey·men.
an imaginary evil character of supernatural powers, especially a mythical hobgoblin supposed to carry off naughty children.
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RELATED WORDS
phantom, hobgoblin, monster, bugbear, visitant, apparition, bugaboo, specter, goblin, phantasma, spook, bogey, phantasm, spirit, wraith, boogeyman, boggle, bogle, bogyman, boogieman
Origin of bogeyman
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for bogeyman
Contemporary Examples of bogeyman
What went before, an interim framework agreement that caused a great deal of controversy, is no longer the bogeyman.
Insurance is a large and varied industry, and frequently plays the heavy and bogeyman, especially the health insurers.
“China has replaced Japan as the bogeyman of East Asia in terms of international investment,” said Milhaupt.
Hamas remains the bogeyman, much as the PLO was, before Madrid and Oslo, but with some crucial differences.
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 DukakisMark Katz
February 24, 2012
bogeyman
noun plural -men
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper