noun
- something that causes fear, worry, or irritation; a persistent problem or source of annoyance
- an imaginary creature used to frighten children
Usage: traditional folklore
Examples
- Traffic jams are my biggest bugbear when commuting to work.
- The new tax regulations have become a bugbear for small business owners.
- Her bugbear is people who don’t return their shopping carts.
- The old house’s creaky floors were a constant bugbear for the family.
- Parents often use the bugbear to make children behave.
- The bugbear in the story lived under the bridge and scared travelers.