Link Centre Dictionary

bugbear

bug·bear

UK/ˈbʌɡ.bɛə(ɹ)/ US/ˈbʌɡ.bɛː(ɹ)/ uncommon

noun

1.
2.

an object of dread or apprehension

  • “Germany was always a bugbear for France”
  • “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Synonyms

Origin

From obsolete meaning of bug (“something terrifying”) + bear. See Middle English bugge, modern bogey.

Related words

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.