1. plural of bogyman; imaginary evil spirits or monsters used to frighten children
Usage: alternative spelling of bogeymen
2. people or things that are unreasonably feared or dreaded
Usage: figurative use

Examples

• Parents shouldn’t use bogymen to scare their children into behaving.
• The old house was said to be full of bogymen and ghosts.
• Politicians often create bogymen out of minor issues.
• She realized her childhood fears of bogymen were just imagination.
• The media turned the new policy into one of society’s bogymen.
• Don’t let these financial bogymen prevent you from investing wisely.