1
as in dreads
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 headaches
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 bugbears
Duffy’s bugbears include the aforementioned fisticuffs, a lack of pleases and thank yous for staff, and the reluctance of current passengers to help the aged, the infirm, and the pregnant.
—
Raven Smith, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
Anyway, as this supporter told Sky Sports, one of their bugbears is that Chelsea Dagger doesn’t actually have anything to do with Chelsea Football Club.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Raven Smith, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
Anyway, as this supporter told Sky Sports, one of their bugbears is that Chelsea Dagger doesn’t actually have anything to do with Chelsea Football Club.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugbears
Noun
-
The courtroom doors cracked open, and a Black woman with long dreads walked in.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Also, there is this human white boy with dreads, Spider, a Tarzan type who hangs around the Sullys with the help of an oxygen mask.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
These include smart finds for meal prep, cooking, and cleaning—because there’s no shortage of everyday kitchen headaches to solve.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The change could also prompt state governments to roll out a patchwork of their own regulations, adding a new layer of compliance headaches for automakers, utilities, and other companies.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Almost every one of Arsenal’s title-winning seasons in living memory has had a moment where the terrors set in.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The lustrous surfaces hide moral horrors, silence emotional terrors, and block out the filth beyond their boundaries.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But the focus on value has caused frustrations at times among parts of the chain's operator base.—
Kate Rogers,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
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Here are some of the pettiest, most unimportant frustrations so far.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Now, for one of their chief bugaboos — a primary culprit for the mediocre record through 32 games.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
25 Dec. 2025
-
James went down a lengthy list of bugaboos that hurt the Chargers, including but not limited to 14 penalties totaling 107 yards, the Giants’ 7-for-15 efficiency on third downs, a lackluster start that featured deficits of 10-0 and 13-3 in the first half and a failure to force a New York turnover.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Barry said the new penalties are being enacted to coincide with the town’s passage of new rules dealing with nuisances and stormwater issues.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Jody Allen should not appear on a list of the NFL’s biggest nuisances.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Shrek and Fiona are now both full-time ogres, but Fiona’s parents (John Cleese and Julie Andrews) aren’t too thrilled, as a particularly tense family dinner scene makes clear.—
Skyler Trepel September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The fungus enters the body through small cuts or puncture wounds, often from rose thorns or splinters.—
Leslie Baumann,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
In Christianity, its leaves represent the crown of thorns and berries Christ’s blood.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bugbears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugbears. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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