1. an imaginary evil spirit or monster used to frighten children
2. a person or thing that is widely regarded as a source of fear or threat
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The child was afraid the boogeyman was hiding under his bed.
• Parents shouldn’t use the boogeyman to scare their kids into behaving.
• She checked the closet to prove there was no boogeyman inside.
• The politician became the boogeyman for all the country’s economic problems.
• Don’t let fear of failure become your boogeyman.
• The media portrayed him as the boogeyman of corporate greed.