noun
- an object of fear or concern, often exaggerated or imaginary
- a recurring problem or source of irritation
Examples
- The national debt has become a political bugaboo for many voters.
- Her biggest bugaboo is having to speak in public.
- Traffic congestion remains the city’s main bugaboo.
- Don’t let that old bugaboo about failure stop you from trying.
- The software bug became a real bugaboo for the development team.
- Parents shouldn’t make bedtime into a bugaboo for children.