1. Plural of boogeyman; imaginary creatures or monsters used to frighten children into obedience.
Usage: informal; often used in children's contexts
2. Plural of boogeyman; people or things that are feared or blamed for problems, often without solid evidence.
Usage: figurative; informal

Examples

• Parents sometimes invoke boogiemen to encourage their children to behave well at bedtime.
• The media portrayed the rival company as one of the boogiemen responsible for the industry's decline.
• He dismissed the concerns as mere boogiemen invented to distract from real issues.
• Children's stories often feature boogiemen lurking in dark corners.
• Politicians sometimes create boogiemen out of foreign threats to rally public support.
• The boogiemen of her childhood nightmares seemed silly now that she was grown.