1. a frightening imaginary creature used to scare children into obedience
Usage: informal; often used in the phrase 'the boogieman' or 'the boogeyman'
2. a person or thing that is widely feared or blamed for problems, often without clear justification
Usage: figurative; informal

Examples

• Parents sometimes tell their children that the boogieman will get them if they don't go to bed.
• Don't be afraid of the boogieman—he's not real.
• The media portrayed the new technology as a boogieman threatening traditional jobs.
• She used the boogieman as a way to encourage her son to clean his room.
• Politicians often use the boogieman of inflation to justify their policies.
• The boogieman under the bed is just a figment of your imagination.