phobic

adjective

Definition of phobicnext
as in afraid
of, relating to, or having an extremely strong fear or dislike of someone or something She is phobic about heights.

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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 phobic To be phobic is to be swayed by not just fear, but irrational fear. — Literary Hub, 24 Mar. 2026 Reshaping ion solvation The researchers used a parasitic salt-phobic polymer network in their electrolyte design, which selectively repels lithium ions while attracting solvent molecules. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 19 Feb. 2026 The emails included instructions for editing email signatures to assist tech-phobic workers. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2025 The author has become controversial due to what her critics describe as phobic and abusive anti-transgender views. — Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 20 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for phobic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phobic
  1. afraid
  2. scared
  3. terrified
  4. worried
  5. timid
Adjective
  • And many of them weren’t afraid to make that known on social media.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The logic is that if colleges are afraid to sign a player out of fear of retaliation, the player won’t receive the benefits of Judge Sweeney’s order granting the injunction.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • Ormund seemingly isn’t scared to learn that enough soldiers to fill a basketball arena are about to bang down the door.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Most of the world was fumbling and scared, and Fauci seemed to have some idea of what to do.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of scared
Adjective
  • As their captors sought cover, the terrified children were ordered to stay and shoot down the jets over the capital, Khartoum.
    — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Fuelled by unhinged online hate and anti-Israel extremism, total violent hate crimes skyrocketed by 97% since 2022, forcing terrified Jewish communities around the world into hiding.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of terrified
Adjective
  • But Russian ballistic missiles appear to be the threat that has Ukrainian’s leadership most worried.
    — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As students head back to school across Georgia, some parents are worried about more than academics.
    — Brian Unger, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of worried
Adjective
  • Football is a physical sport, one where an athlete can’t play scared, timid, being cautious, and needs to give his all on every snap.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • Min-ji now understands more about her father’s past and motivations, and no longer sees him as a timid man who would rather bow than fight.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 27 July 2026
Definition of timid

Browse Nearby Words

phobias
phobic
phone
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Cite this Entry

“Phobic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phobic. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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