1. plural of boogeyman; imaginary evil beings used to frighten children
2. people or things that are unreasonably feared or blamed for problems
Usage: figurative

Examples

• Parents shouldn’t use boogeymen to scare their children into behaving.
• The closet was full of imaginary boogeymen that kept him awake at night.
• Politicians often create boogeymen to distract from real issues.
• The media portrayed immigrants as economic boogeymen.
• She realized her childhood fears of boogeymen were completely irrational.
• Corporate executives became the boogeymen blamed for the financial crisis.