arachnophobia
2 synonyms and 0 antonyms for arachnophobia, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An intense and persistent fear of spiders, strong enough to cause panic, avoidance or physical symptoms that go well beyond ordinary dislike.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use arachnophobia
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral. Used both clinically and casually, though casual use often just means strong dislike.
Etymology
From Greek arachne 'spider' plus phobos 'fear'.
Full origin of arachnophobia →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between arachnophobia and just disliking spiders?
Disliking spiders is a common preference that does not change how you live. Arachnophobia is a diagnosable specific phobia: the fear is out of proportion to the danger and drives real avoidance, such as refusing to enter a shed or leaving a house until the spider is removed.
Is arachnophobia the fear of all arachnids or only spiders?
In everyday use it means fear of spiders. Strictly, arachnids also include scorpions, ticks and mites, and some clinicians extend the term to those, but spiders are what the word normally refers to.
How common is arachnophobia?
It is one of the most frequently reported specific phobias, and surveys consistently find it affects a substantial minority of adults, with women reporting it more often than men.