ophidiophobia

noun

ophid·​io·​pho·​bia ō-ˌfi-dē-(ˌ)ō-ˈfō-bē-ə How to pronounce ophidiophobia (audio)
: abnormal fear of snakes
Fear of snakes, called ophidiophobia, ranks among the most common phobias.Kimberly French
… a member of the British Embassy broke the news that the entire Ferguson family suffered from ophidiophobiaPeople Weekly
ophidiophobe noun
or less commonly ophidiophobic
plural ophidiophobes also ophidiophobics
… there is an especially creepy visualization of Sinbad trapped in the Valley of the Serpents, in which the sinuously coiled forms and scaly cross-hatching conjure an ophidiophobe's worst nightmare … Elizabeth Lowry
ophidiophobic adjective
… chances are you or someone you love is ophidiophobic. For some, just the mere possibility of encountering the object of their revulsion has them recoiling in horror and scurrying like a jackrabbit in the headlights. Michael Halstead

Word History

Etymology

ophidi- (in ophidian + -o- + -phobia)

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ophidiophobia was in 1914

Dictionary Entries Near ophidiophobia

Cite this Entry

“Ophidiophobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ophidiophobia. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

ophidiophobia

noun
ophid·​io·​pho·​bia ō-ˌfid-ē-(ˌ)ō-ˈfō-bē-ə How to pronounce ophidiophobia (audio)
: abnormal fear of snakes
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