as in panic
an extremely strong dislike or fear of someone or something
His fear of crowds eventually developed into a phobia.
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Recent Examples of phobia
Forced to eat — 4,000 calories a day or more — I was flung into confrontation with my food phobia and my complex feelings about gender and race, all at once.
—
Sarah Aziza, People.com, 14 May 2025
Hartford Courant This has developed in phobias known as friggatriskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of Friday the 13th, or triskaidekaphobia, which means the fear of the number 13.
—Tribune News Reports, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025
As seen in the video above, even before the fire alarm goes off, the dog was triggered, which happens to canines with phobias.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Even Heinz made a joke on social media last year about the superstar’s phobia, posting a photo of a bottle of ketchup labeled Heinz 97 (referencing McDavid’s jersey number) — instead of the traditional Heinz 57 label on the bottle.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for phobia
Sarah Aziza, People.com, 14 May 2025
Hartford Courant This has developed in phobias known as friggatriskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of Friday the 13th, or triskaidekaphobia, which means the fear of the number 13.
—Tribune News Reports, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025
As seen in the video above, even before the fire alarm goes off, the dog was triggered, which happens to canines with phobias.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Even Heinz made a joke on social media last year about the superstar’s phobia, posting a photo of a bottle of ketchup labeled Heinz 97 (referencing McDavid’s jersey number) — instead of the traditional Heinz 57 label on the bottle.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for phobia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phobia
Noun
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As Mackey and Noem bust into the theater, the audience scrambles in panic.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
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The scream, the adults in the living room knocking over chairs and flying towards the terrace, Mr. Tiago and the boy’s father diving in with their clothes on and everything, the women standing at the pool’s edge in panic, crying.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Far to the north, in the Montes de Maria region where Nawar Jimenez grew up, the terror instilled by armed groups is also deep-rooted.—
Ladan Anoushfar,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
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Virginia Woolf’s wild run of creativity in her 40s included writing her masterpiece on the terrors and triumphs of middle age.—
Hillary Kelly,
The Atlantic,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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After a barrage of freaky, teasing scares, and a lot of ominous attention directed at Alex’s house, where something evil is clearly going on, Weapons gambles on providing solutions.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
15 Aug. 2025
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The event will have four scare zones, essentially outdoor, queue-free haunts.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Ultimately, these discussions about college don’t have to include arguments or high anxiety.—
Robert Cole,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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By Linda Wells Skin in the Game Leather Bound Tanning is back, and Gen Z is ignoring the risks, turning to sunbathing and tanning beds to soothe anxiety and feel in control By Erin Flaherty Read On Dietary Restrictions?—
Jeanne Malle,
Air Mail,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Well, consider that, unlike what’s happening in the world at large, the frights and delights inside Viola’s Room are actually fun.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
26 June 2025
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Ah well, Cesare already has two sequel novels published, so there’s already plenty more Frendo the Clown frights ready to be harvested.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Phobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phobia. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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