Bugbear

Alternative forms

 * bug-bear

Noun

 * 1) An ongoing problem; a recurring obstacle or adversity.
 * 2) A source of dread; resentment; or irritation.
 * 3) An imaginary creature meant to inspire fear in children.

Thesaurus
affliction, anathema, bane, bete noire, bogey, bogeyman, boggart, bogle, bogy, booger, boogerman, boogeyman, bug, bugaboo, bugger, burden, calamity, crushing burden, cry of wolf, curse, death, destruction, detestation, disease, dud, evil, false alarm, fee-faw-fum, frightener, ghost, ghoul, grievance, harm, hate, hobgoblin, holy terror, horror, incubus, infliction, monster, nemesis, nightmare, ogre, ogress, open wound, pest, pestilence, phantom, plague, revenant, running sore, scarebabe, scarecrow, scarer, scourge, specter, succubus, terror, thorn, torment, vampire, vexation, visitation, werewolf, woe