Definitions for bugbear
ˈbʌgˌbɛərbug·bear

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. bogeyman, bugbear, bugaboo, boogeyman, boogernoun

   an imaginary monster used to frighten children

2. bugbear, hobgoblinnoun

   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

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. bugbearnoun

   An ongoing problem; a recurring obstacle or adversity.

2. bugbearnoun

   A source of dread; resentment; or irritation.

3. bugbearnoun

   An imaginary creature meant to inspire fear in children.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bug, Bugbearnoun

   A frightful object; a walking spectre, imagined to be seen; generally now used for a false terrour to frighten babes.

   Etymology: It is derived by some from big, by others from pug; bug, in Welch, has the same meaning.

   Each trembling leaf and whistling wind they hear,
   As ghastly bug their hair on end does rear,
   Yet both do strive their fearfulness to feign. Fairy Q. b. ii.

   Sir, spare your threats;
   The bug which you would fright me with, I seek. William Shakespeare.

   Hast not slept to-night? would he not, naughty man, let it sleep? a bugbear take him. William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida.

   We have a horrour for uncouth monsters; but, upon custom and experience, all these bugs grow familiar and easy to us. Roger L'Estrange.

   Such bugbear thoughts, once got into the tender minds of children, sink deep, so as not easily, if ever, to be got out again. John Locke.

   To the world, no bugbear is so great,
   As want of figure, and a small estate. Alexander Pope.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bugbear

   A bugbear is a legendary creature or type of hobgoblin comparable to the boogeyman (or bugaboo or babau or cucuy), and other creatures of folklore, all of which were historically used in some cultures to frighten disobedient children.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. bugbear

   A bugbear is an imagined fear, problem, or annoyance that causes worry or annoyance, often persistently. It can also refer to anything causing irrational or obsessive fear or anxiety. Additionally, in folklore, a bugbear is a creature or type of hobgoblin comparable to the bogeyman, used to frighten children into good behavior.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bugbearnoun

   something frightful, as a specter; anything imaginary that causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear; also, something really dangerous, used to frighten children, etc

2. Bugbearnoun

   same as Bugaboo

3. Bugbearadjective

   causing needless fright

4. Bugbearverb

   to alarm with idle phantoms

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bugbear

   A bugbear is a legendary creature or type of hobgoblin comparable to the bogeyman, and other creatures of folklore, all of which were historically used in some cultures to frighten disobedient children. Its name is derived from a Middle English word "bugge", or perhaps the old Welsh word bwg, or old Scots "bogill", and has cognates in German "bögge" or "böggel-mann", and most probably also English "bugaboo" and "bogey-man". In medieval England, the Bugbear was depicted as a creepy bear that lurked in the woods to scare children; it was described in this manner in an English translation of a 1565 Italian play The Buggbear. In a modern context, the term bugbear serves as a metaphor for something which is annoying or irritating. It may also mean pet peeve.

Matched Categories

1. • Monster
   • Object

How to pronounce bugbear?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say bugbear in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of bugbear in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of bugbear in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=bugbear
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Bugbear
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=bugbear
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugbear
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bugbear
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=bugbear