1
as in dread
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason
communism was once the nation's biggest bugbear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
hated all the bugbears of modern life, especially those long commutes to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bugbear
The new Conservative government, intent on reducing the deficit, cut deep and broad, slashing spending not just on party bugbears like welfare but also on public budgets for investment.
—
Josh Holder, New York Times, 3 July 2024
Another bugbear on Teams can come if you’ve been invited to a pre-arranged meeting, or left a meeting partway through, but still receive notifications every time a message is typed into the chat box of the ongoing meeting.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2020
Those claims play into concerns about government overreach, a common right-wing bugbear.
—Ben Guarino, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2024
Players customize their characters’ abilities and personalities to either participate in a roleplaying session, act out scenes with NPCs to further the story, or engage in combat with terrifying monsters like bugbears or gloomstalkers.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bugbear
Josh Holder, New York Times, 3 July 2024
Another bugbear on Teams can come if you’ve been invited to a pre-arranged meeting, or left a meeting partway through, but still receive notifications every time a message is typed into the chat box of the ongoing meeting.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2020
Those claims play into concerns about government overreach, a common right-wing bugbear.
—Ben Guarino, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2024
Players customize their characters’ abilities and personalities to either participate in a roleplaying session, act out scenes with NPCs to further the story, or engage in combat with terrifying monsters like bugbears or gloomstalkers.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bugbear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugbear
Noun
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Filming their every outspoken thought and conversation whether in the newsroom, at home, on the street or in cars driving around frigid Moscow, the director channels the growing sense of dread as the government crackdown accelerates and the war nears.—
Jordan Mintzer,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Feb. 2025
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Read More: Scientists Debate Why Childbirth is So Brutal Epidural Risks and Research Unfortunately, myths and out-of-date information continue to inspire fear and dread of the procedure.—
Stephen C. George,
Discover Magazine,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Both conditions also involve symptoms outside the intestines, such as headaches or brain fog.5 Only celiac disease involves symptoms related to malnutrition, which occurs because the small intestine is damaged.—
Sarah Bence,
Health,
28 Feb. 2025
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Less frequent side effects can include chest discomfort, weakness, headache, rhinitis, hypoglycemia and vitamin B12 deficiency (with long-term metformin use).—
Leslie Baumann,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Next week, George was trained as a chef, but he's got one frustrating bugaboo in the kitchen.—
Bon Appétit,
Bon Appétit,
20 Feb. 2025
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Can James Franklin officially shed the big-game bugaboo?—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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So the duo switches gears to discuss a murder instead, with Carolyn continuing to be a thorn in Dani’s side, ixnaying every name that’s brought up in the turret.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
20 Feb. 2025
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In addition, cane wounds caused by the thorns on crossing canes allow fungal pathogens to enter the cane, which can open the plant up to cane disease.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Jan. 2025
Noun
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So far the victims, regarded as a nuisance, have gotten nothing.—
Linda Robertson,
Miami Herald,
2 Mar. 2025
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Mexico accuses them of negligence, public nuisance and unjust enrichment.—
Belen Zapata,
CNN,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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On January 1, revelers rang in the new year to tragedy when a terror attack claimed 15 lives and left 57 injured.—
Harriet Shepherd,
Vogue,
5 Mar. 2025
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Celebrated around the world, Mardi Gras holds a special meaning for the citizens of New Orleans, especially after the terror attack on the city’s famed Bourbon Street on New Year’s Eve.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Trump was willing to give detente a shot but underwent a 180-degree turn after the first sign of frustration.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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Many end users have voiced their frustration with the difficulty of opening the new packages and the risks associated with using sharp tools.—
Bill Schiffmiller,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Sailing teaches us that being an honorable competitor is more important than being a top competitor because while every race is there to lose, luck is the omnipresent hobgoblin.—
Conor Mastromarco,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Nov. 2024
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Gleeson’s Puck is a malevolent hobgoblin who serves as the royal jester to King Auberon of Faerie.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
2 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Bugbear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugbear. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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