Bugbear vs. Hobgoblin

Bugbearnoun

An ongoing problem; a recurring obstacle or adversity.

Hobgoblinnoun

A small, ugly goblin that makes trouble for humans.

Bugbearnoun

A source of dread; resentment; or irritation.

Hobgoblinnoun

(by extension) A source of dread, fear or apprehension; a bugbear.

Bugbearnoun

(archaic) An imaginary creature meant to inspire fear in children.

Hobgoblinnoun

A frightful goblin; an imp; a bugaboo; also, a name formerly given to the household spirit, Robin Goodfellow.

Bugbearverb

(transitive) To alarm with idle phantoms.

Hobgoblinnoun

(folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings

Bugbearnoun

Same as Bugaboo.

Hobgoblinnoun

an object of dread or apprehension;

‘Germany was always a bugbear for France’; ‘A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds’;

Bugbearverb

To alarm with idle phantoms.

Hobgoblin

A hobgoblin is a spirit (creature) of the hearth, typically appearing in folklore, once considered helpful but since the spread of Christianity has often been considered mischievous. Shakespeare identifies the character of Puck in his A Midsummer Night's Dream as a hobgoblin.

Bugbearnoun

an imaginary monster used to frighten children

Bugbearnoun

an object of dread or apprehension;

‘Germany was always a bugbear for France’; ‘A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds’;

Bugbear

A bugbear is a legendary creature or type of hobgoblin comparable to the boogeyman (or bugaboo or babau or cucuy), and other creatures of folklore, all of which were historically used in some cultures to frighten disobedient children.