boogeyman
Child's imaginary terror
A boogeyman is an imaginary monster used to frighten children into good behavior: The boogeyman will get you if you don't go to sleep.
More broadly, it refers to any object of irrational fear or a scapegoat blamed for problems: Inflation has become the boogeyman of economic policy.
Also spelled bogeyman.
Built-in storage chamber
- underbedSpace below sleeping platform
- bedtimeDesignated hour for retiring
- darknessTotal absence of light
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
shadows · monster · fear · imagination · hiding · blanket · door · creaking
Unverified traditional tale
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- taleSpoken or written narrative
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
apparition · ghoul · goblin · creature · haunt · supernatural · folktale · cautionary
Indication of potential harm
- menaceSource of potential harm
- fearEmotional response to threat
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- scare tacticIntimidation as persuasion
coercion · bullying · warning · specter · looming · invoked · leverage · control
Unfairly blamed person
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- threatIndication of potential harm
- enemyHostile opposing party
demonization · hysteria · blame · rhetoric · manipulation · distraction · fabricated · exaggerated
closet
Built-in storage chamber
- underbedSpace below sleeping platform
- bedtimeDesignated hour for retiring
- darknessTotal absence of light
nightmare · shadows · monster · fear · imagination · hiding · blanket · door · creaking · whispers
legend
Unverified traditional tale
phantom · apparition · ghoul · goblin · creature · haunt · supernatural · folktale · cautionary · oral tradition
threat
Indication of potential harm
scare tactic · coercion · bullying · warning · specter · looming · invoked · leverage · control · obedience
scapegoat
Unfairly blamed person
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- threatIndication of potential harm
enemy · demonization · hysteria · blame · rhetoric · manipulation · distraction · fabricated · exaggerated · othering
- fearfear, dread, afraid, fright, frightened
- horrorhorror, terror, fear, dread, haunted
- mythical creaturesdragon, dragons, vampire, vampires, werewolf
- childhood loretooth fairy, Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, monster under bed, imaginary friend
- childhood mythstooth fairy, Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, monster under bed, closet monster
- Dark Creaturesdemon, vampire, werewolf, zombie, ghoul
boogeymanguardian angel
Protective spirit assigned individually
protector · guardian · savior · fairy godmother · Santa Claus
boogeymansecurity blanket
Soothing attachment object
teddy bear · imaginary friend · tooth fairy · sandman · mother figure