Bogeyman

ahd-5
  • noun. undefined
  • the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
  • noun. A goblin; a bugbear; a bogey{1}. This is the form used by parents to frighten children.
  • Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
  • noun. A menacing, ghost-like monster in children's stories.
  • noun. Any make-believe threat, especially one used to intimidate or distract.
  • WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
  • noun. an imaginary monster used to frighten children
  • Word Usage
    "This business of Iran being characterized as the bogeyman is all a smokescreen people!"
    cross-reference
    bugbear  
    Hypernym
    Words that are more generic or abstract
    monster  
    Same Context
    Words that are found in similar contexts
    Synonym
    Words with the same meaning
    variant
    bogey{1}