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
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Recent Examples of phobia
Despite its name, photophobia is not a phobia or a fear of lights.
—
Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
Social anxiety, also known as social phobia, is an intense fear of social situations.
—Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2025
According to research, the fear of flying is one of the most prevalent phobias in the world.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
The research could help scientists better understand how to help people with anxiety, phobias, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for phobia
Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
Social anxiety, also known as social phobia, is an intense fear of social situations.
—Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2025
According to research, the fear of flying is one of the most prevalent phobias in the world.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
The research could help scientists better understand how to help people with anxiety, phobias, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for phobia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phobia
Noun
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Heck, even fear of long lines at bars and clubs have been downgraded from panic to the typical annoyance.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
17 May 2025
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In 2019, staff at a facility in Phoenix called 911 in a panic after a patient—who was reportedly vegetative but may have been minimally conscious—unexpectedly gave birth.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
Noun
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If that’s true, then the rate of growth of AI startups should be striking terror into corporate board rooms around the world.—
Andrew Binns,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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Set against the backdrop of Imperial Russia’s criminal underworld and revolutionary ferment, the film explores the making of the bloody dictator who would reshape the 20th century through terror, war and ideology — and the largest bank heist in Russian history, according to the logline.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Yes, Walsh had her own cancer scare in 2015, when Walsh was in her mid-40s.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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Along with the pregnancy came an immediate scare when the mother, Dutchess, attempted to eat one of her puppies shortly after giving birth.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
Noun
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Margin anxiety nonetheless prompted HF Sinclair to pause what had been a budding streak of annual dividend hikes since a little before the corporate merger.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
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As reported by First Post, Poland is holding a presidential election against a backdrop of growing security concerns, fueled by the ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine and anxiety over a potential U.S. retreat from European defense commitments under President Donald Trump.—
Emma Marsden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 May 2025
Noun
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Objects are often askew and out of frame, and everyday sounds like a toilet flush or blinds being pulled assume a low, staticky growl, as though frights fueled by childish imagination.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
20 Jan. 2025
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In a second Instagram Stories post, the singer offered another look at the cake, featuring a large bust of a clicker, the fungal zombie-esque frights from the Last of Us video game franchise and HBO series of the same name.—
Gil Macias,
People.com,
13 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Phobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phobia. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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