transphobic
adjective
trans·pho·bic
ˌtran(t)s-ˈfō-bik 
ˌtranz-
: having or showing discrimination against, aversion to, or fear of transgender people
If you go out of your way to intentionally misgender someone, however, that is transphobic.—
Catherine Caruso
Catherine CarusoExamples of transphobic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Coughlan is not the only celebrity to speak out in opposition to Rowling, 59, who first came under fire in 2020 for making comments that were widely condemned as transphobic.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
An onslaught of transphobic social media harassment targeting Earl follows.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 18 Apr. 2025
Such is the case with this 15-minute fictionalized short inspired by the traumatic aftermath of a real event — when a group of Proud Boys in 2022 stormed a Drag Queen Story Hour program at the East Bay’s San Lorenzo Library and proceeded to hurl gay and transphobic slurs there.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
The Context New figures from the DfE show that school exclusions for transphobic or homophobic behavior rose from 164 in 2021–22 to 178 in 2022–23.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
The Trump administration has also targeted transgender service members and nominated an openly transphobic Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
—Dr. Sean Patterson, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2025
It’s become a flashpoint for an often-misinformed debate about how women are allowed to compete in sports and has subsequently triggered an onslaught of online, transphobic abuse toward athletes.
—Aleks Klosok, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
The partnership provoked the ire of conservatives, who called for a boycott amid a transphobic backlash.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
Regardless of where they are housed, incarcerated trans people are expected to face an onslaught of new transphobic measures.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 24 Feb. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Julia Moore, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
An onslaught of transphobic social media harassment targeting Earl follows.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 18 Apr. 2025
Such is the case with this 15-minute fictionalized short inspired by the traumatic aftermath of a real event — when a group of Proud Boys in 2022 stormed a Drag Queen Story Hour program at the East Bay’s San Lorenzo Library and proceeded to hurl gay and transphobic slurs there.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
The Context New figures from the DfE show that school exclusions for transphobic or homophobic behavior rose from 164 in 2021–22 to 178 in 2022–23.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
The Trump administration has also targeted transgender service members and nominated an openly transphobic Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
—Dr. Sean Patterson, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2025
It’s become a flashpoint for an often-misinformed debate about how women are allowed to compete in sports and has subsequently triggered an onslaught of online, transphobic abuse toward athletes.
—Aleks Klosok, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
The partnership provoked the ire of conservatives, who called for a boycott amid a transphobic backlash.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
Regardless of where they are housed, incarcerated trans people are expected to face an onslaught of new transphobic measures.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Transphobic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transphobic. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share