PHOBIA Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

phobia

noun

Definition of phobia

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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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of phobia His father has many food phobias and drug issues. — Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026 In his foundational research, Bandura demonstrated this through a now-famous series of studies involving individuals with severe phobias of snakes. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2026 This, Wright imagined, was one way Proxi might display its analysis of players’ minds, an aerial map of loves, phobias, triumphs, losses, pets, and near misses plus all the associations connecting them. — Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026 In Atlanta, some people living with SAD, as well as social phobia or even simple shyness, are facing their fears in a novel way. — Hunter Boyce, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for phobia

Recent Examples of Synonyms for phobia

Noun

Her parents helped create the law, which requires public schools to install a silent panic alarm system directly linked to law enforcement.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Yet there are also signs that the right’s revisionism panic might be petering out.

— Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of panic

Noun

Futures were little changed early Thursday, a sign traders are still deciding whether the sell-off was a one-day scare or the start of a real showdown between the Treasury and the bond market.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
Those scares are best exemplified by the film’s most inventive setpiece, where Gemma gets lost in an endless pillow fort filled with baddies around every corner.

— William Earl, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of scare

Noun

And some of the film’s most impressive frights take place in the dentist’s chair, veering into serious body-horror territory.

— Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
After a couple of rounds of throwing up and an evaluation by the doctor, Coop is okay, but the whole thing puts a fright into the crew, and especially into Joy.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026

Definition of fright

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phlegmatic

phobia

phobias

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Style

“Phobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phobia. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of phobia

noun

Example Sentences

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The Longest Long Words List

Face Your Fears

It's Not Just You, Charlie Brown

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