hobgoblin

noun

ˈhäb-ˌgäb-lən How to pronounce hobgoblin (audio)
Definition of hobgoblinnext
1
as in fairy
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, Puck is a hobgoblin who plays pranks such as spoiling milk and tripping old ladies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in dread
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason the fear of success and the pressures that come with it can be more of a hobgoblin than the possibility of failure

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hobgoblin 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 In another fates-or-hobgoblins moment, a discombobulated Washington had started a war. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 As Ralph Waldo Emerson might have said in an essay of the same name (and did), a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds; Tommy seems to feel his brain shrinking along with his life. — John Anderson, WSJ, 9 Jan. 2024 Sightings of the mythical Nain Rouge, a red hobgoblin or dwarf that appears on the eve of tragedy, date to Detroit's origin — and locals have reclaimed the spirit with an annual march to scare the demon away, according to tradition. — Detroit Free Press, 24 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for hobgoblin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hobgoblin
  1. fairy
  2. dread
  3. elf
  4. ogre
  5. goblin
  6. terror
  7. dwarf
  8. bugbear
Noun
  • Indulge in a little whimsy with this manicure that’s fit for a garden fairy.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 23 June 2026
  • Meander through a lush, fairy-worthy tapestry of ivy and narrow pathways forged throughout the B&B's history.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 23 June 2026
Definition of fairy
Noun
  • Unlike the 1960 film, where Mizuno narrates his own tragedy, Yeon and Katayama’s new Vapor is an object of mystery and dread rather than the story’s protagonist.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
  • Without a sense of dread and horror, From just becomes a kind of supernatural soap opera where everyone is angry at one another all the time.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of dread
Noun
  • Ferrell starred as Buddy in the 2003 Christmas classic, which focused on a human adopted by elves and raised as an elf in the North Pole until one day, as an adult, discovering his true identity.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
  • At the end of 2005-2006, a whole host of elves got arrested and were sent to prison.
    — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
Definition of elf
Noun
  • Zendaya, Marcello Hernandez, and Skyler Gisondo will portray the children of the central ogre couple.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
  • Hitting theaters next summer, Shrek 5 sees Zendaya joining the voice cast that includes returnees Mike Myers as the titular misunderstood ogre, Murphy as his best pal Donkey and Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026
Definition of ogre
Noun
  • Two years ago, the Man City phenom appeared in a 90-second spot for the game that saw him get recruited to storm a castle teeming with goblins, dragons and impish skeletons.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026
  • Follow the babe with the power into Jim Henson’s gloriously weird fantasy wonderland, where goblins sing, doors argue, and David Bowie’s Goblin King serves enough glam-rock charisma to power an entire kingdom.
    — Arushi Jacob, Variety, 24 June 2026
Definition of goblin
Noun
  • Thibault in a news conference Tuesday said that authorities believe the incident was not related to terror.
    — Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 30 June 2026
  • Meanwhile, frightful aftershocks continued to rock the area, sowing terror in a population already reaching the limits of endurance.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of terror
Noun
  • For pots, look for dwarf zinnia varieties that won’t require staking.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • As virality goes, this is not a big number, but the passion that the account has aroused dwarfs its reach.
    — David Kamp, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of dwarf
Noun
  • The heat and humidity during our test week brought me to my other bugbear with the C-HR.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026
  • Wardex's incompetence is another bugbear.
    — Ian Stokes, Space.com, 12 June 2026
Definition of bugbear

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hobgoblin
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Cite this Entry

“Hobgoblin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hobgoblin. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hobgoblin

Nglish: Translation of hobgoblin for Spanish Speakers

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