Plural of boogeyman; multiple imaginary frightening creatures or people used to scare someone, often representing irrational fears.
From 'boogeyman,' a word whose origin is unclear but possibly from Old English or Dutch folklore creatures. The plural form is commonly used in political rhetoric and parenting.
Politicians love to create 'boogeymen'—fictional threats that unite voters—and the word's vague origin mirrors how these fears are often baseless rumors rather than concrete realities.
Plural of bogeyman, which retains the male-specific suffix. Historically, masculine plurals were used as collective/neutral terms, reflecting linguistic default assumptions about threat figures as male.
Use 'bogeymen' (standard colloquial plural) or 'bogeys/bogey figures' for gender-neutral reference when context allows.
["bogeys","bogey figures","threats"]
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