bugbears

noun

plural of bugbear
1
as in dreads
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason communism was once the nation's biggest bugbear

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in headaches
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

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.
Recent Examples of bugbears This has been one of its main bugbears for years, with several engine types experimented with. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026 The bugbears of this season — wasting promising chances (though Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce deserves credit for many of those) and some vulnerability to counter-attacks — remained. — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026 Duffy’s bugbears include the aforementioned fisticuffs, a lack of pleases and thank yous for staff, and the reluctance of current passengers to help the aged, the infirm, and the pregnant. — Raven Smith, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugbears
  1. dreads
  2. headaches
  3. terrors
  4. frustrations
  5. bugaboos
  6. nuisances
  7. hobgoblins
  8. thorns
Noun
  • He's described by officials as a Black male in his late teens with a medium-large build and thick dreads.
    — Nick Lentz, CBS News, 15 June 2026
  • Mirror images except for the fact that Jelani has his hair in dreads, while Ari goes with the more retro-look afro.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Definition of dreads
Noun
  • What hurt wasn’t just inheriting the customer-service headaches or paying my own phone bill for the first time at 27.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2026
  • These are identified by painful headaches accompanied by light and sound sensitivity.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 30 July 2026
Definition of headaches
Noun
  • The woods could be hiding places of witches and sorcerers, disguised as the old and feeble, but capable of summoning wonder and terrors, charms as well as curses.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
  • Which iconic horrors will return to haunt the hallowed halls of 13 and what new terrors await?
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2026
Definition of terrors
Noun
  • LaFleur attributed the poor grade to players frustrations over roles and communication regarding critical feedback.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Experts say frustrations over education and employment are emerging as one of the biggest vulnerabilities for the Modi government.
    — Priyanka Salve,Raksha Murali, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrations
Noun
  • Best Supporting Actress One of Hickey’s bugaboos is the way the supporting races have often been gift-wrapped early, with co-leads like Emilia Pérez’s Zoe Saldaña and A Real Pain’s Kieran Culkin sweeping to victory.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Now, for one of their chief bugaboos — a primary culprit for the mediocre record through 32 games.
    — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2025
Definition of bugaboos
Noun
  • The Kansas City City Council approved a trio of ordinances on Thursday aimed at vacant properties that become nuisances and staving off demolition of historic buildings.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Germans often overreact to animal nuisances with complicated schemes.
    — Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
Definition of nuisances
Noun
  • In another fates-or-hobgoblins moment, a discombobulated Washington had started a war.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Definition of hobgoblins
Noun
  • These networks used to buffer against isolation and economic displacement—the thorns of modern life that make partnership more valuable yet love more difficult to find.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Blackthorn salt was filtered through something called a tower of thorns.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
Definition of thorns

Browse Nearby Words

bugbear
bugbears
bugeye
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Cite this Entry

“Bugbears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugbears. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bugbears for Spanish Speakers

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