1. a mischievous or evil spirit or goblin in folklore
Usage: folklore; mythology
2. something that causes fear or worry, especially when the fear is unreasonable
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The old house was said to be haunted by hobgoblins and other supernatural creatures.
• Children were frightened by stories of hobgoblins lurking in the forest.
• The fear of technology became a hobgoblin for many elderly people.
• His constant worry about germs had become his personal hobgoblin.
• The politician dismissed the concerns as mere hobgoblins designed to scare voters.
• Shakespeare’s Puck is perhaps the most famous hobgoblin in English literature.