noun
Meaning 1
An ongoing problem; a recurring obstacle or adversity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pet peeve
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
bugbear
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbʌɡ.bɛə(ɹ)/
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Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbʌɡ.bɛː(ɹ)/
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Received-Pronunciation: bŭg′-bâr
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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General-American: /ˈbʌɡ.bɛɚ/
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General-American: bŭg′-bâr
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General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
noun
Meaning 2
A source of dread; resentment; or irritation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: anathema, antipathy, bête noire
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
A generic creature, often described as a large goblin, meant to inspire fear in children.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: arts, fantasy, folklore, history, human-sciences, literature, media, publishing, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: bogeyman, bogey, bug-a-boo, bugaboo
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To alarm with idle phantoms.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
an object of dread or apprehension--Ralph Waldo Emerson
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Germany was always a bugbear for France
- A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hobgoblin
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: object
noun
Meaning 6
an imaginary monster used to frighten children
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: bogeyman, bugaboo, boogeyman, booger
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: monster
History
Etymology
From obsolete meaning of bug (“something terrifying”) + bear. See Middle English bugge, modern bogey.
Across languages
Translations
26 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Czech: černá můra — ongoing problem
- Dutch: bête noire — ongoing problem
- Finnish: kiusa — ongoing problem
- Finnish: riesa — ongoing problem
- Macedonian: ба́уч (báuč) — ongoing problem
- Bulgarian: плашило (plašilo) — source of dread, resentment or irritation
- Czech: strašák (v hlavě) — source of dread, resentment or irritation
- Dutch: boeman — source of dread, resentment or irritation
- Dutch: schrikbeeld — source of dread, resentment or irritation
- Finnish: henkilökohtainen mörkö — source of dread, resentment or irritation
- Macedonian: стра́шило (strášilo) — source of dread, resentment or irritation
- Macedonian: ко́шмар (kóšmar) — source of dread, resentment or irritation
- Macedonian: пла́шило (plášilo) — source of dread, resentment or irritation
- Chinese Mandarin: 熊蜂 (xióngfēng) — imaginary creature
- Czech: strašidlo — imaginary creature
- Dutch: spookbeeld — imaginary creature
- Finnish: menninkäinen — imaginary creature
- Finnish: mörkö — imaginary creature
- German: Schrat — imaginary creature
- Greek: μπαμπούλας (bampoúlas) — imaginary creature
- Ancient Greek: φόβητρον (phóbētron) — imaginary creature
- Hungarian: mumus — imaginary creature
- Italian: babau — imaginary creature
- Macedonian: ба́уч (báuč) — imaginary creature
- Macedonian: страши́лиште (strašílište) — imaginary creature
- Tamil: பூச்சாண்டி (pūccāṇṭi) — imaginary creature