noun
arachnophobia
uh-rak-nuh-FOH-bee-uh
Arachnophobia (noun) means an intense and persistent fear of spiders, strong enough to cause panic, avoidance or physical symptoms that go well beyond ordinary dislike. Example: “Her arachnophobia is bad enough that she cannot stay in a room where a spider has been spotted.”
noun
1
An intense and persistent fear of spiders, strong enough to cause panic, avoidance or physical symptoms that go well beyond ordinary dislike.
"Her arachnophobia is bad enough that she cannot stay in a room where a spider has been spotted."
"He is treating his arachnophobia with gradual exposure therapy."
How to use arachnophobia
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing very frightened of spiders.
When to use it
Neutral. Used both clinically and casually, though casual use often just means strong dislike.
Memory tip
Someone with the fear is an arachnophobe, and the adjective is arachnophobic.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
suffer from arachnophobia
severe arachnophobia
cure arachnophobia
arachnophobia treatment
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Fill the gap
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Her _____ is bad enough that she cannot stay in a room where a spider has been spotted.
Etymology
From Greek arachne 'spider' plus phobos 'fear'.
Synonyms
View more →
fear of spiders
spider phobia
Rhymes for arachnophobia
See all rhymes for 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.
What is the meaning of arachnophobia?
"arachnophobia" (noun) means an intense and persistent fear of spiders, strong enough to cause panic, avoidance or physical symptoms that go well beyond ordinary dislike.
