boogeyman

[boog-ee-man, boo-gee-]

noun

plural

boogeymen 

1. bogeyman.

Word History and Origins

Origin of boogeyman¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

“But to me he was like a real boogeyman. That stayed in my mind.”

From Los Angeles Times

Was Deen really an early victim of the fictitious celebrity boogeyman now known as “cancel culture,” or was she appropriately harangued?

From Salon

Charlie Kirk bizarrely resurrected the DEI boogeyman to suggest that a fire department nearly two hours away is responsible for the delayed response to Friday’s floods.

From Salon

Craig said the characters’ frequent misinterpretations took on the role of the “monster,” since this is a horror movie without a true boogeyman.

From Los Angeles Times

While neighboring countries often have territorial disputes, he said Mexican governments, particularly those associated with the Institutional Revolutionary Party, made the U.S. the boogeyman in order to drum up domestic support, he said.

From Los Angeles Times