boogeyman

American  

[boog-ee-man, boo-gee-] / ˈbʊg iˌmæn, ˈbu gi- /

noun

plural

boogeymen

1. bogeyman.

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Etymology

Origin of boogeyman

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

And it would give the Bills another chance to really get over their boogeyman.

From The Wall Street Journal

“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

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

"I wasn't satisfied with just imagining this evil boogeyman who had done a horrible thing to me," she explained.

From Salon