Associations to the word «Bugbear»

Wiktionary

BUGBEAR, noun. An ongoing problem; a recurring obstacle or adversity.
BUGBEAR, noun. A source of dread; resentment; or irritation.
BUGBEAR, noun. An imaginary creature meant to inspire fear in children.
BUGBEAR, verb. (transitive) To alarm with idle phantoms.

Dictionary definition

BUGBEAR, noun. An imaginary monster used to frighten children.
BUGBEAR, noun. 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.

Wise words

Words, words, words! They shut one off from the universe. Three quarters of the time one's never in contact with things, only with the beastly words that stand for them.
Aldous Huxley