Word
bugbear
Phoneticsbug·bear
US/ˈbʌɡˌbɛɹ/
UK/bˈʌɡbeə/
Countable noun
Definition
n. something that people find very annoying or that they worry about a lot. It is often a small problem that someone talks about frequently.
n. a persistent source of irritation, obsession, or fear. Often refers to a minor but recurring grievance that an individual finds particularly vexing.
Examples
“Grammar mistakes are his biggest bugbear.”
“The lack of reliable public transport remains a major bugbear for residents living in the outer suburbs.”
“While the CEO focused on global expansion, the staff's primary bugbear was the outdated software that hindered their daily productivity.”
Examples
simple
“Grammar mistakes are his biggest bugbear.”
contextual
“The lack of reliable public transport remains a major bugbear for residents living in the outer suburbs.”
complex
“While the CEO focused on global expansion, the staff's primary bugbear was the outdated software that hindered their daily productivity.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “bugbear” in context.
Verb
01. become bugbear
“Parking has become a major bugbear for local residents since the new stadium opened.”
verb + noun
02. bugbear remains
“Despite the software update, the frequent crashing bugbear remains for many users.”
noun + verb
03. identify bugbear
“The survey asked employees to identify their main bugbear regarding office culture.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. chief bugbear
“The lack of public transport was the chief bugbear for residents in the new development.”
adj + noun
05. constant bugbear
“Slow internet speeds remain a constant bugbear for remote workers in rural areas.”
adj + noun
06. particular bugbear
“Grammatical errors in professional emails are a particular bugbear of mine.”
adj + noun
07. pet bugbear
“His pet bugbear is people who leave their shopping trolleys in the middle of the aisle.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. list of bugbears
“He went through his usual list of bugbears, starting with the price of coffee.”
noun + prep + noun
09. be a bit of a bugbear
“The new filing system is proving to be a bit of a bugbear for the administrative staff.”
10. one of my biggest bugbears
“One of my biggest bugbears is when people talk loudly on their phones in the library.”
Usage
Often used with possessives like 'my' or 'his' to indicate a personal grievance.
Real-World Examples
“His persistent tardiness was not just a bugbear for staff, but, according to dressing room sources who prefer to remain anonymous to protect relationships, fellow team-mates.” “His bugbear was expense accounts and on one occasion after reporting a revolution in Mexico he presented, after much pressure from The Daily Mail's accountants, the following: "Taxi to Waterloo, 1/6; porter, 1s; fare to Southampton, £16/15; shirts, £1,000.” “His shift in strategy also comes as short sellers — bugbears long criticized by corporate boards — face increasing scrutiny from regulators, which some say is unfair.” “This is my personal bugbear, the thing that sets me off on a probably tedious tirade to my friends and neighbors at backyard barbecues and cocktail parties.” Etymology
From Middle English bugge ("something terrifying") + bear, with bugge the ancestor of modern bogey. The compound preserves a sense now obsolete: a bug was once a hobgoblin or terror, not an insect, and the bear intensifies the threat rather than naming the animal. The word has outlived its components' original meanings.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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