bugbear
5 synonyms for bugbear, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A problem that keeps coming back and causes trouble.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
From obsolete meaning of bug (“something terrifying”) + bear. See Middle English bugge, modern bogey.
Full origin of bugbear →