ailurophobia
2 synonyms and 1 antonym for ailurophobia, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An extreme or irrational dread of cats and other feline animals.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
felinophobia
gatophobia
Antonyms
ailurophilia
How to use ailurophobia
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
suffers from ailurophobia
mild ailurophobia
severe ailurophobia
A clinical-sounding term, more at home in psychology writing than casual conversation.
Etymology
First recorded in 1905, the word combines ailuro-, meaning cat, with -phobia, meaning fear or hatred. Both elements come from Ancient Greek.
Full origin of ailurophobia →Frequently asked questions
What is ailurophobia?
It describes an intense, unreasonable dread of cats, extending to feline animals more broadly.
What causes ailurophobia?
As with other phobias, it is generally understood as an exaggerated or irrational fear rather than a reasoned response, though the definition itself does not specify a cause.
Is ailurophobia the same as simply disliking cats?
Not quite. The term specifically describes an irrational fear or hatred, going beyond an ordinary preference for other animals.
