bugaboo

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: bug=a=boo

CIDE DICTIONARY

bugaboo, n. [See Bug.].

•  Something frightful, as a specter; anything imaginary that causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear; also, something really dangerous, or an imaginary monster, used to frighten children, etc.  Lloyd.  [1913 Webster]

  "But, to the world no bugbear is so great
  As want of figure and a small estate."  [1913 Webster]

  "The bugaboo of the liberals is the church pray."  [1913 Webster]

  "The great bugaboo of the birds is the owl."  [1913 Webster]
•  a source of concern; as, the old bugaboo of inflation still bothers them.  [WordNet 1.5]

Syn. -- Hobgoblin; goblin; specter; ogre; scarecrow; bogeyman; boogeyman; booger.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

bugaboo, n. a bogey (see BOGEY(2)) or bugbear.

Etymology

prob. of dial. orig.: cf. Welsh bwcibo the Devil, bwci hobgoblin

ROGET THESAURUS

bugaboo

Alarm

N alarm, alarum, larum, alarm bell, tocsin, alerts, beat of drum, sound of trumpet, note of alarm, hue and cry, fire cross, signal of distress, blue lights, war-cry, war- whoop, warning, fogsignal, foghorn, yellow flag, danger signal, red light, red flag, fire bell, police whistle, false alarm, cry of wolf, bug-bear, bugaboo, alarming, Int, sauve qui peut!, every man for himself!, qui vive?.

Fear

N fear, timidity, diffidence, want of confidence, apprehensiveness, fearfulness, solicitude, anxiety, care, apprehension, misgiving, feeze, mistrust, suspicion, qualm, hesitation, nervousness, restlessness, inquietude, disquietude, worry, concern, batophobia, heartquake, flutter, trepidation, fear and trembling, perturbation, tremor, quivering, shaking, trembling, throbbing heart, palpitation, ague fit, cold sweat, abject fear, mortal funk, heartsinking, despondency, despair, fright, affright, affrightment, boof alarm, dread, awe, terror, horror, dismay, consternation, panic, scare, stampede (of horses), intimidation, terrorism, reign of terror, bug bear, bugaboo, scarecrow, hobgoblin, nightmare, Gorgon, mormo, ogre, Hurlothrumbo, raw head and bloody bones, fee-faw-fum, bete noire, enfant terrible, alarmist, fearing, frightened, in fear, in a fright, haunted with the fear of, afeard, afraid, fearful, timid, timorous, nervous, diffident, coy, faint- hearted, tremulous, shaky, afraid of one's shadow, apprehensive, restless, fidgety, more frightened than hurt, aghast, awe-stricken, horror-stricken, terror-stricken, panic- stricken, awestruck, awe-stricken, horror-struck, frightened to death, white as a sheet, pale, pale as a ghost, pale as death, pale as ashes, breathless, in hysterics, inspiring fear, alarming, formidable, redoubtable, perilous, portentous, fearful, dread, dreadful, fell, dire, direful, shocking, terrible, terrific, tremendous, horrid, horrible, horrific, ghastly, awful, awe-inspiring, revolting, Gorgonian, in terrorem, Int, angels and ministers of grace defend us!, ante tubam trepidat, horresco referens, one's heart failing one, obstupui steteruntque comae et vox faucibus haesit, a dagger of the mind, expertus metuit, fain would I climb but that I fear to fall, fear is the parent of cruelty, Gorgons and hydras and chimeras dire, omnia tuta timens, our fears do make us traitors.