boogeyman

noun
UK: /ˈbuːɡimæn/
US: /ˈbuːɡimæn/

  1. An imaginary monster used to frighten children.

    1. The boogeyman lives under the bed, according to my little brother. [ ] [ ]
    2. Parents sometimes use stories of a boogeyman to make kids behave better at night. [ ] [ ]

  2. A person or thing that is widely regarded as an object of fear or threat.

    1. The media often portrays immigrants as the boogeyman of our society. [ ] [ ]
    2. Inflation is the boogeyman that the government is trying to control with new policies. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

threat bogeyman monster phantom specter

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "boogeyman" in English means: An imaginary monster used to frighten children., A person or thing that is widely regarded as an object of fear or threat..

The phonetic transcription of "boogeyman" is /ˈbuːɡimæn/ in British English and /ˈbuːɡimæn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "boogeyman": threat, bogeyman, monster, phantom, specter.

Example usage of "boogeyman": "The boogeyman lives under the bed, according to my little brother.". More examples on the page.