bogeyman
Americannoun
plural
bogeymennoun
Etymology
Origin of bogeyman
First recorded in 1885–90; bogey 1 (variant of bogy 1, in the sense “a hobgoblin, evil spirit”) + man
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
From despair and optimism to downright fear of new England bogeyman Mitchell Starc.
From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025
Opponents of Proposition 50 have their own bogeyman.
From Barron's • Nov. 4, 2025
“Uber is no longer the bogeyman it was,” said McNamara.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025
Genetics seems to be the big driver, reinforcing the argument that autism is a normal human variation and there is no Big Pharma bogeyman at the heart of this issue.
From Slate • Sep. 25, 2025
“Now, now, sweetie,” Pa said to Miss Hendrix, the same way he told Fern, “Now, now baby girl. Ain’t no bogeyman in the radiator pipe.”
From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.