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
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
Lemon later pressed Musk on his other recent bugbear: diversity, equity, and inclusion.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bugbear
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
Lemon later pressed Musk on his other recent bugbear: diversity, equity, and inclusion.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 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
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Can James Franklin officially shed the big-game bugaboo?—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
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Three-pointer propensity and lack of defense are the two main bugaboos observers point to.—
Ryan Morik,
Fox News,
19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Navalny was a thorn in Putin’s side, exposing corruption in high places and orchestrating some of the biggest anti-government protests seen in recent years.—
Anna Cooban,
CNN,
16 Feb. 2025
-
The lesser prairie chicken, which was listed in 2023, is similarly a thorn in the side of many Republicans lawmakers.—
Benji Jones,
Vox,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Finally, Paddington graduates from nuisance to pathfinder, from struggling to fit in to forging his own identity.—
Natalia Winkelman,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2025
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What is known is that the area of the attack had been frequently monitored by animal control authorities as a problematic zone where one or more dogs have been reported as being a nuisance or possible danger to the public, dating back to February 2023.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The revelation is the latest tragic twist for the Bibas family, who have become among the most recognizable victims of the October 7 terror attacks, with confirmation of their deaths triggering an outpouring of grief in Israel.—
Mohammed Tawfeeq,
CNN,
21 Feb. 2025
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Sources briefed on the preliminary investigation told ABC News officials believe a coordinated terror attack was planned for Friday morning to coincide with the pre-Sabbath rush when buses in Israel are typically crowded.—
Jordana Miller,
ABC News,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The car is filled with tension, with Basel’s frustration and Yuval’s exasperation.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
28 Feb. 2025
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Many meteorologists took to social media to vent their frustrations.—
Andrew Freedman,
Axios,
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 3 Mar. 2025.
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