phobia
2 synonyms and 1 antonym for phobia, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An intense, often irrational fear of a specific thing or situation.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
phobic disorder
phobic neurosis
Antonyms
How to use phobia
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
fear of
develop a phobia
overcome a phobia
Etymology
From Ancient Greek phobos, "fear," first used as an independent word around 1790 after appearing in compound words like "hydrophobia."
Full origin of phobia →Frequently asked questions
What does “phobia” mean?
The word “phobia” means an intense, often irrational fear of a specific thing or situation. In plain terms, a strong, often unreasonable fear of something specific, like spiders, heights, or flying.
How do you pronounce “phobia”?
“Phobia” is pronounced FOH-bee-uh (/ˈfoʊ.bi.ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “phobia” in a sentence?
Here is “phobia” used in a sentence: “His phobia of heights kept him off the roof terrace.”
What part of speech is “phobia”?
“Phobia” is a noun.
Where does the word “phobia” come from?
The word “phobia” dates back to around 1790 and comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek phobos, "fear," first used as an independent word around 1790 after appearing in compound words like "hydrophobia.".
Is “phobia” a common word?
“Phobia” is an uncommon word in modern English.
