phobic

1 of 2

adjective

pho·​bic ˈfō-bik How to pronounce phobic (audio)
: of, relating to, affected with, or constituting phobia
phobic noun

-phobic

2 of 2

adjective combining form

1
a
: having an intolerance or aversion for
photophobic
Anglophobic
b
: exhibiting a phobia for
claustrophobic
2
: lacking chemical affinity for (see affinity entry 1 sense 2b(2))
These polymers are like soaps, with a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic portion in the molecule.Mercouri G. Kanatzidis
compare -philic

Examples of phobic in a Sentence

Adjective She is phobic about heights.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Conway is mousy, phobic of plane travel, and loves her parents and her cat, a Scottish Fold named Alfie. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024 Together, the two wrote and illustrated a book that helped the bug phobic deal with the Brood X cicada emergence 17 years ago, and that now, as the red-eyed creatures prepare to make another grand appearance, is landing in the hands of the newly anxious. Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2021 At a time when many filmmakers are paranoically spoiler-phobic, director Daniel Goldhaber doesn’t mind if audiences know the outcome of his new movie going in. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2023 According To Your Zodiac Sign Nevertheless, because Gemini is so mutable (and, uh, commitment-phobic) this pair might have some trouble locking down the relationship. Women's Health, 14 Mar. 2023 Ashton Kutcher plays Peter, a commitment-phobic New York business guru who’d rather be a novelist. Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2023 Paulie wore tracksuits, slept with hookers, was phobic about germs, hated cats and watched television in a chair covered with plastic. Anita Gates, BostonGlobe.com, 9 July 2022 Paulie wore track suits, slept with hookers, was phobic about germs, hated cats and watched television in a chair covered with plastic. New York Times, 8 July 2022 Symptom provocation in dental anxiety using cross-phobic video stimulation. Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 5 Oct. 2011

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'phobic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective combining form

French -phobique, from Late Latin -phobicus, from Greek -phobikos, from -phobia

First Known Use

Adjective

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phobic was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near phobic

Cite this Entry

“Phobic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phobic. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

phobic

1 of 2 adjective
pho·​bic ˈfō-bik How to pronounce phobic (audio)
: of, relating to, affected with, marked by, involving, or constituting a phobia
phobic disorders
a phobic person
phobic anxiety
phobic situations

phobic

2 of 2 noun
: one who exhibits a phobia

More from Merriam-Webster on phobic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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