acrophobia
3 synonyms and 1 antonym for acrophobia, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — an intense fear of heights or of being high above the ground.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
altophobia
fear of heights
hypsophobia
Antonyms
bathophobia
How to use acrophobia
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
suffer from acrophobia
severe acrophobia
overcome acrophobia
mild acrophobia
It is a clinical-sounding term, so everyday speech often prefers the plainer phrase 'fear of heights'.
Etymology
Built from the prefix acro-, meaning high or at the top, joined to -phobia, meaning fear.
Full origin of acrophobia →Frequently asked questions
What does acrophobia mean?
It is a strong fear of being at a great height above the ground.
What is the opposite of acrophobia?
Bathophobia, a fear of depths or of looking down into deep spaces, is treated as its opposite.
Is acrophobia the same as fear of flying?
No, acrophobia is specifically about height itself, while fear of flying can involve other worries such as loss of control or enclosed spaces.
