bogeyman
Child's bedtime terror
A bogeyman is a frightening imaginary creature used to scare children into obedience: The bogeyman will get you if you don't behave.
By extension, any object of dread or fear, often one exaggerated or fabricated: Communism was the bogeyman of Cold War politics.
Also spelled boogeyman or bogyman.
Frightening figure for children
- bogeyOne over par
- bogleGoblin or phantom
- bugabooSource of exaggerated fear
- hobgoblinTroublesome fairy creature
monster · ghoul · specter · phantom · wraith · goblin · demon · fiend
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- frightSudden intense fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
nightmare · anxiety · trepidation · apprehension · creeps · heebie-jeebies · chill · shudder
Unverified traditional tale
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- folktaleTraditional narrative passed down
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
oral-history · tradition · storytelling · fable · mythos · ethnology · cryptid · fairy-tale
Source of potential harm
- warningAlert about danger
- dangerExposure to harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- lurkingConcealed and watchful
prowling · stalking · looming · ominous · sinister · malevolent · predatory · haunting
Cause sudden alarm
- scareCause sudden fright
- terrorizeFrighten into submission
- menaceSource of potential harm
- threatenPromise harm or punishment
spook · haunt · torment · cow · discipline · warn · caution · behave
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- demonizePortray as utterly evil
- targetObject of pursuit
- fall-guyOne blamed for others
strawman · deflection · fearmongering · hysteria · witch-hunt · propaganda
boogeyman
Frightening figure for children
hobgoblin · monster · ghoul · specter · phantom · wraith · goblin · demon · fiend · spook
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
panic · nightmare · anxiety · trepidation · apprehension · creeps · heebie-jeebies · chill · shudder · paranoia
legend
Unverified traditional tale
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- folktaleTraditional narrative passed down
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
lore · oral-history · tradition · storytelling · fable · mythos · ethnology · cryptid · fairy-tale
menace
Source of potential harm
lurking · prowling · stalking · looming · ominous · sinister · malevolent · predatory · haunting · watching
frighten
Cause sudden alarm
threaten · spook · haunt · torment · cow · discipline · warn · caution · behave · obedience
blame
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
fall-guy · strawman · deflection · fearmongering · hysteria · witch-hunt · propaganda
bogeymanguardian angel
Protective spirit assigned individually
tooth fairy · Santa Claus · fairy godmother · protector · sandman
bogeymanguardian angel
Protective spirit assigned individually
good fairy · hero · savior · white knight · fairy godmother