Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [buhg-bair]
- /ˈbʌgˌbɛər/
- /ˈbʌɡ.beər/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [buhg-bair]
- /ˈbʌgˌbɛər/
Definitions of bugbear word
- countable noun bugbear Something or someone that is your bugbear worries or upsets you. 3
- noun bugbear a thing that causes obsessive fear or anxiety 3
- noun bugbear (in English folklore) a goblin said to eat naughty children and thought to be in the form of a bear 3
- noun bugbear an imaginary hobgoblin or terror used to frighten children into good conduct 3
- noun bugbear anything causing seemingly needless or excessive fear or anxiety 3
- noun bugbear any source, real or imaginary, of needless fright or fear. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of bugbear
First appearance:
before 1570 One of the 33% oldest English words
First recorded in 1570-80; bug2 + bear2
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Bugbear
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
bugbear popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 73% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
bugbear usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for bugbear
noun bugbear
- gremlin — a mischievous invisible being, said by airplane pilots in World War II to cause engine trouble and mechanical difficulties.
- scare — to fill, especially suddenly, with fear or terror; frighten; alarm.
- hobgoblin — something causing superstitious fear; a bogy.
- ogre — a monster in fairy tales and popular legend, usually represented as a hideous giant who feeds on human flesh.
- apprehension — Apprehension is a feeling of fear that something bad may happen.
Antonyms for bugbear
noun bugbear
- calmness — without rough motion; still or nearly still: a calm sea.
- bravery — Bravery is brave behaviour or the quality of being brave.
- courage — Courage is the quality shown by someone who decides to do something difficult or dangerous, even though they may be afraid.
- ease — freedom from labor, pain, or physical annoyance; tranquil rest; comfort: to enjoy one's ease.
Top questions with bugbear
- what is bugbear?
- what is a bugbear?
- what does bugbear mean?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with b
- Words starting with bu
- Words starting with bug
- Words starting with bugb
- Words starting with bugbe
- Words starting with bugbea
- Words starting with bugbear