bogeyman

noun

bo·​gey·​man ˈbu̇-gē-ˌman How to pronounce bogeyman (audio) ˈbō- How to pronounce bogeyman (audio)
ˈbü-, 
ˈbu̇-gər- How to pronounce bogeyman (audio)
variants or less commonly bogyman
Synonyms of bogeymannext
1
: a monstrous imaginary figure used in threatening children
2
: a terrifying or dreaded person or thing : bugbear

Examples of bogeyman in a Sentence

My aunt used to say to my sister and me, “The bogeyman will get you if you're bad.” a politician who is the familiar bogeyman of conservatives
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And the foreign bogeyman was no longer the driver. — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026 Some use the idea as a bogeyman to scare up regulation, while others brandish it in marketing. — Matthew Hutson, IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026 At a time when billionaires are bogeymen, Steyer has struggled to gain momentum. — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 28 Apr. 2026 So far, bacteria have been the bogeymen that most planetary protection protocols have been designed to defeat. — Leonard David, Scientific American, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bogeyman

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bogeyman was in 1890

Rhymes for bogeyman

See All Rhymes for bogeyman

Browse Nearby Words

bogey
bogeyman
bogfern
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bogeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bogeyman. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bogeyman

noun
bo·​gey·​man ˈbu̇g-ē-ˌman How to pronounce bogeyman (audio) ˈbō-gē- How to pronounce bogeyman (audio)
ˈbü-gē-
1
: an imaginary monster used in threatening children
2
: a terrifying or dreaded person or thing

More from Merriam-Webster on bogeyman

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bogeyman

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