bugbear C1 Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives US /ˈbʌɡbɛr/ UK /ˈbʌɡbɛə/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun a persistent source of irritation or annoyance Traffic jams are a common bugbear for commuters. 2 noun an object of dread or fear, often without real cause The idea of public speaking is a bugbear for many people. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a persistent source of... nuisanceirritantheadachebotherpest 2 noun · an object of dread or fear,... bogeymangoblinspecterphantomspook ↔ Opposites delightpleasure Etymology AI details From Middle English bug-/bugge ('hobgoblin; scarecrow') + bear; originally an imaginary creature used to frighten children, later a persistent source of annoyance or fear. Topics Word Formation & Derivatives General Vocabulary External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # bugbear **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈbʌɡbɛr/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈbʌɡbɛə/ ## Meanings 1. a persistent source of irritation or annoyance 2. an object of dread or fear, often without real cause ## Examples - Traffic jams are a common bugbear for commuters. - The idea of public speaking is a bugbear for many people. ## Synonyms - nuisance - irritant - headache - bother - pest - bogeyman - goblin - specter - phantom - spook ## Antonyms - delight - pleasure ## Etymology From Middle English bug-/bugge ('hobgoblin; scarecrow') + bear; originally an imaginary creature used to frighten children, later a persistent source of annoyance or fear. ## AI Etymology Bugbear comes from Middle English bug-/bugge ('hobgoblin; scarecrow') + bear; originally an imaginary creature used to frighten children, later a persistent source of annoyance or fear. In current use it is a noun meaning "a persistent source of irritation or annoyance". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. The semantic development is therefore important as well as the form: the word moves from the older concrete, technical, or literal setting into the present figurative or specialized sense. ## Topics - Word Formation & Derivatives - General Vocabulary markdown