xenophobic
5 synonyms and 4 antonyms for xenophobic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Showing fear, dislike or hostility towards people from other countries, or towards foreigners and their customs.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use xenophobic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
xenophobic rhetoric
xenophobic attacks
xenophobic abuse
xenophobic policies
Strongly critical. It is an accusation, not a neutral description, and is used mainly of rhetoric, policy and attitudes.
Etymology
From Greek xenos, meaning stranger or foreigner, and phobos, meaning fear.
Full origin of xenophobic →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between xenophobic and racist?
Xenophobia targets people on the basis of being foreign — their nationality, immigration status, language or accent. Racism targets people on the basis of race or perceived ethnic origin, including fellow citizens. The two overlap heavily in practice, and hostility often draws on both at once.
How do you pronounce xenophobic?
The x is pronounced as a z: zen-uh-FOH-bik, with the stress on the third syllable. The same applies to xenophobia and xenophobe.
Is xenophobia the same as nationalism?
No. Nationalism is devotion to one's own nation and can exist without hostility to others. Xenophobia is specifically fear or hatred of foreigners. Nationalist movements may be xenophobic, but the terms are not interchangeable.
