boogeyman

noun

boo·​gey·​man ˈbu̇-gē-ˌman How to pronounce boogeyman (audio)
ˈbü-
variants or less commonly boogerman

Examples of boogeyman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Baltimore’s youth are not a boogeyman to fear, but people to invest in. Nicolas Johnson-Smith, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2026 Big Tech was a notable boogeyman for the authors, who view smartphones and social media as a danger to traditional religious values, but major Silicon Valley figures have become hugely influential in the White House. David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 29 Dec. 2025 Republicans have cast him as a liberal boogeyman and some fellow Democrats were slow to embrace him as too far left. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025 Even among Republicans, 42% said Trump was responsible for the current economic conditions, compared with the 53% who blamed Biden, the administration’s frequent boogeyman. Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 29 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for boogeyman

Word History

Etymology

by alteration

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boogeyman was in 1880

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boogeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boogeyman. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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