bogeyman
noun
bo·gey·man
ˈbu̇-gē-ˌman 
ˈbō-
ˈbō-
ˈbü-,
ˈbu̇-gər-
variants
or less commonly bogyman
1
: a monstrous imaginary figure used in threatening children
2
: a terrifying or dreaded person or thing : bugbear
Examples of bogeyman in a Sentence
My aunt used to say to my sister and me, “The bogeyman will get you if you're bad.”
a politician who is the familiar bogeyman of conservatives
Recent Examples on the Web
Justin Baldoni would seem to be a bogeyman for America’s right wing.
—
Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews breaks silence after critical fumble and drop in loss to Buffalo Bills
Similar to, say, LeBron James during his run of NBA Finals appearances from 2011 to 2018, Mahomes is the ultimate bogeyman for an AFC team trying to win a Super Bowl.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 24 Jan. 2025
Once a chief lieutenant for Democratic donor George Soros, a bogeyman to much of the GOP, Bessent emerged over the past year as a trusted Trump adviser who commanded respect among the financial elite whose backing the president-elect covets.
—Andrew Ackerman The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 13 Jan. 2025
Navajo police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, played by Zahn McClarnon, is haunted by a bogeyman from his childhood in the third season teaser trailer for AMC‘s Dark Winds, which dropped on Friday.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for bogeyman 
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Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews breaks silence after critical fumble and drop in loss to Buffalo Bills
Similar to, say, LeBron James during his run of NBA Finals appearances from 2011 to 2018, Mahomes is the ultimate bogeyman for an AFC team trying to win a Super Bowl.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 24 Jan. 2025
Once a chief lieutenant for Democratic donor George Soros, a bogeyman to much of the GOP, Bessent emerged over the past year as a trusted Trump adviser who commanded respect among the financial elite whose backing the president-elect covets.
—Andrew Ackerman The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 13 Jan. 2025
Navajo police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, played by Zahn McClarnon, is haunted by a bogeyman from his childhood in the third season teaser trailer for AMC‘s Dark Winds, which dropped on Friday.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for bogeyman
Articles Related to bogeyman
Dictionary Entries Near bogeyman
Cite this Entry
“Bogeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bogeyman. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bogeyman
noun
bo·gey·man
ˈbu̇g-ē-ˌman
ˈbō-gē-
ˈbō-gē-
ˈbü-gē-
1
: an imaginary monster used in threatening children
2
: a terrifying or dreaded person or thing
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