Phobias
Common phobias and their meanings • 106 phobias available
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Ablutophobia
Fear of bathing, washing, or cleaning
Example:
"The therapist explained that her ablutophobia stemmed from a traumatic childhood experience with water."
Acarophobia
Fear of itching or of insects/mites that cause itching (e.g., mites).
Example:
"She avoided gardening because her acarophobia made every itch feel catastrophic."
Acerophobia
Fear of sour tastes or sourness (food aversion to sour flavours).
Example:
"Her acerophobia made it impossible to taste the lemon tart at the party."
Achluophobia
Fear of darkness or of being in dark places.
Example:
"Achluophobia kept him from walking home after sunset."
Acousticophobia
Fear of loud noises or certain kinds of sound (noise sensitivity leading to anxiety).
Example:
"Her acousticophobia made concerts unbearable — she left during the first song."
Acrophobia
Fear of heights (extreme anxiety when at significant elevation).
Example:
"Acrophobia makes him avoid high balconies and mountain hikes."
Agliophobia
Fear of pain (excessive fear of experiencing pain).
Example:
"Her agliophobia made even routine vaccinations extremely stressful."
Ailurophobia
Fear of cats (intense, irrational fear of felines).
Example:
"Ailurophobia caused her to cross the street when she saw a cat in the distance."
Alliumphobia
Fear of garlic (aversion or anxiety relating to garlic smell or contact).
Example:
"Her alliumphobia meant she refused to eat at restaurants serving garlic-heavy dishes."
Androphobia
Fear of men (sometimes called arrhenphobia).
Example:
"After a traumatic encounter she developed androphobia and avoided male colleagues."
Anthophobia
Fear of flowers (extreme unease or aversion to flowers).
Example:
"Her anthophobia meant she refused flowers even at happy events."
Arachnophobia
Fear of spiders (intense, common specific phobia).
Example:
"Arachnophobia made camping impossible for her because spiders were everywhere."
Arithmophobia
Fear of numbers or mathematical figures (anxiety about dealing with numbers).
Example:
"Arithmophobia made the simplest accounting tasks feel terrifying to him."
Arsonphobia
Fear of fire (irrational or excessive fear beyond normal caution).
Example:
"After a house fire in the neighbourhood, his arsonphobia made even candles feel dangerous."
Atychiphobia
Fear of failure (intense dread of failing or making mistakes).
Example:
"Her atychiphobia prevented her from applying for promotions despite excellent performance."
Aulophobia
Fear of flutes or flute-like sounds (rare, sound-specific phobia).
Example:
"The sound of a flute at the concert triggered his aulophobia and he left the hall."
Aurophobia
Fear of gold or gold-related objects (aversion to gold as a material or symbol).
Example:
"Despite her jewellery business, aurophobia made it impossible for her to wear gold."
Bacteriophobia
Fear of bacteria (extreme contamination fear often overlapping with germophobia).
Example:
"Bacteriophobia made him sterilise groceries obsessively after shopping."
Ballistophobia
Fear of bullets, missiles or projectiles (fear of being struck by weapons).
Example:
"Ballistophobia made him avoid fireworks and loud demonstrations."
Bibliophobia
Fear of books (aversion or anxiety around books or reading).
Example:
"Her bibliophobia meant she rarely visited libraries despite being intelligent."
Cacophobia
Fear of ugliness or ugly things (excessive aversion to perceived unattractiveness).
Example:
"Cacophobia caused him to avoid crowds where he feared seeing 'ugly' features."
Carcinophobia
Fear of cancer (intense anxiety about developing or having cancer).
Example:
"After a relative's diagnosis, her carcinophobia made every ache feel like the worst-case scenario."
Ceraunophobia
Fear of thunder and lightning (also spelled 'Keraunophobia').
Example:
"Ceraunophobia made storms intolerable; she stayed awake nervously during monsoon nights."
Chaetophobia
Fear of hair (loose hairs, hair loss, or hair-related sensations).
Example:
"Chaetophobia caused her to panic at the sight of hair on clothes or floors."
Chorophobia
Fear of dancing (anxiety about participating in dance).
Example:
"Chorophobia made wedding celebrations extremely stressful for her."
Chrometophobia
Fear of money (anxiety, aversion, or distrust regarding money).
Example:
"Chrometophobia made her refuse loans even when desperately needed."
Chromophobia
Fear of colours (intense discomfort or aversion to certain colours).
Example:
"Chromophobia made bright reds unbearable in her home décor choices."
Cibophobia
Fear of food or eating (fear of choking, contamination, or vomiting associated with food).
Example:
"Cibophobia left her unable to eat socially and severely restricted her diet."
Coulrophobia
Fear of clowns (intense fear often triggered by exaggerated features).
Example:
"Coulrophobia made horror-themed parties unbearable — she fled at the sight of a clown costume."
Cynophobia
Fear of dogs (intense fear of canines or their behaviour).
Example:
"Cynophobia prevented him from walking in the park where dogs were common."