bugaboo

n., pl. -boos.

1. An object of obsessive, usually exaggerated fear or anxiety: “Boredom, laziness and failure . . . These bugaboos, magnified by imagination, keep [the workaholic] running” (Dun's Review).
2. A recurring or persistent problem: “the bugaboos that have plagued vision systems: high price and slow throughput” (Lawrence A. Goshorn).

[Perhaps of Celtic origin.]

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: an imaginary monster used to frighten children
  Synonyms: bogeyman, bugbear, boogeyman, booger

Meaning #2: a source of concern

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - bussemand, skræmmebillede

Nederlands (Dutch)
schrikbeeld

Français (French)
n. - croque-mitaine

Deutsch (German)
n. - Schreckgespenst

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - σκιάχτρο, μπαμπούλας

Italiano (Italian)
spauracchio

Português (Portuguese)
n. - coisa (f) imaginária que causa medo

Русский (Russian)
пугало

Español (Spanish)
n. - espectro, fantasma

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - buse, irritationsmoment

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
鬼怪

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 鬼怪

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 도깨비

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - お化け, 心配の種

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) شىء للتخويف, شىء مقلق, بعبع‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮דחליל, מפלצת‬

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bugaboo	bugaboo chameleon
bugaboo cameleon	bugaboo frog