bogeymen
Children's imagined monsters
Bogeymen is the plural of bogeyman, a frightening imaginary creature used to scare children into good behavior.
Parents might warn that the bogeyman will come if a child doesn't go to sleep or stop misbehaving.
The term extends to any person or thing used as a source of fear or an object of blame, often exaggerated or imaginary: Politicians love to invoke bogeymen to rally their base.
The spelling bogeyman is more common in American English, while boogeyman is a frequent variant.
Evil spirits, often corpse-eaters
- goblinsMalicious mythical creatures
- ogresMythical man-eating giants
- trollsDeliberate online agitators
- bansheesIrish folklore's death-crying women
phantoms · specters · apparitions · sprites · imps · changelings · cryptids · myths
Frightening imaginary creatures
- closetBuilt-in storage chamber
- underbedSpace below sleeping platform
- nightlightDim plug-in lamp
- bedtimeDesignated hour for retiring
imaginary · shadows · darkness · hiding · lurking · creeping · spooky · scary
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
horror · fright · apprehension · trepidation · menace · threat · intimidation · paranoia
Folklore figure punishing misbehavior
- momoSouth Asian filled dumpling
- regionalRelating to an area
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- disciplinaryRelated to enforcing rules
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
- villainWicked story antagonist
- enemyHostile opposing party
- targetObject of pursuit
- demonizedPortrayed as evil
othering · fearmongering · propaganda · hysteria · witch-hunt · outsider · immigrant · persecution
ghouls
Evil spirits, often corpse-eaters
banshees · phantoms · specters · apparitions · sprites · imps · changelings · cryptids · myths · legends
monsters
Frightening imaginary creatures
- closetBuilt-in storage chamber
- underbedSpace below sleeping platform
- nightlightDim plug-in lamp
bedtime · imaginary · shadows · darkness · hiding · lurking · creeping · spooky · scary · frightening
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
panic · horror · fright · apprehension · trepidation · menace · threat · intimidation · paranoia · unease
Krampus
Folklore figure punishing misbehavior
- momoSouth Asian filled dumpling
- regionalRelating to an area
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
blame
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
demonized · othering · fearmongering · propaganda · hysteria · witch-hunt · outsider · immigrant · persecution · prejudice
- mythical creaturesdragon, dragons, vampire, vampires, werewolf
- scaresfrights, scares, chillers, shockers, horror movies
- night terrorsnightmares, sleep paralysis, ghosts, phantoms, specters
- folklorefairy tales, fairytales, folktales, folk tales, folk tale
- fearsspiders, snakes, falling, heights, death
- ghostsapparitions, ghosts, apparition, phantoms, specter
bogeymenguardian angels
Protective spirits assigned to individuals
protectors · saviors · fairy godmothers · guardian spirits · comforters
bogeymentooth fairy
Mythical incisor purchaser
Santa Claus · guardian angels · sandman · Easter Bunny · fairy godmother
bogeymenheroes
Admired courageous figures
saviors · saints · white knights · champions · benefactors