Word page
Hobgoblin means a mischievous household goblin or imp; figuratively, a nagging fear or obsession. It belongs to magical, mythic, and mysterious words and works best in fantasy writing, mythic atmosphere, and language with ceremonial or uncanny flavor. It still feels usable today, especially when you want a word with more character than the plainest alternative.
Hobgoblin means a mischievous household goblin or imp; figuratively, a nagging fear or obsession. It is usually pronounced HOB-gob-lin, and today it is still readable to modern audiences, even if it sounds more deliberate than everyday speech.
In plain English, hobgoblin refers to a mischievous household goblin or imp; figuratively, a nagging fear or obsession. It is most useful when a plain label would tell the truth but miss the tone, flavor, or comic edge.
Hobgoblin feels absurd because its repeated sounds give it a bounce or wobble that makes the word feel half descriptive and half sound effect.
Hobgoblin is generally traced to from older English folklore combining hob- with goblin. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Hobgoblin is still usable today, especially when you want language that feels more distinctive than the plainest modern alternative.
Use hobgoblin when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in fantasy writing, mythic atmosphere, and language with ceremonial or uncanny flavor.
Abracadabra, Alchemy, Haggis, Halfwit, Hamadryad
ordinary explanation, plain realism, mundane language
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.
