hobgoblin

noun
UK: /hɒbˈɡɒblɪn/
US: /hɑːbˈɡɑːblɪn/

  1. A small, mischievous, and ugly creature of folklore; a troublesome elf or goblin.

    1. The hobgoblin hid the farmer's tools in the barn at night.
    2. Local legends tell tales of a hobgoblin who protects the ancient forest from harm.

  2. Something that causes fear or worry; a source of needless anxiety or dread.

    1. Failure on the test was the hobgoblin of my academic career.
    2. He finally overcame the hobgoblin of public speaking by practicing every day.

Synonyms

goblin elf spirit phantom specter boogeyman

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "hobgoblin" in English means: A small, mischievous, and ugly creature of folklore; a troublesome elf or goblin., Something that causes fear or worry; a source of needless anxiety or dread..

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

Synonyms for "hobgoblin": goblin, elf, spirit, phantom, specter, boogeyman.

Example usage of "hobgoblin": "The hobgoblin hid the farmer's tools in the barn at night.". More examples on the page.