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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Recent Examples of phobic
Some research suggests that being exposed to another person's phobic response can teach you to internalize that fear, as well.2
Not all people who develop somniphobia have risk factors for a phobia.
—
Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Dec. 2024
Conway is mousy, phobic of plane travel, and loves her parents and her cat, a Scottish Fold named Alfie.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024
At a time when many filmmakers are paranoically spoiler-phobic, director Daniel Goldhaber doesn’t mind if audiences know the outcome of his new movie going in.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2023
According To Your Zodiac Sign Nevertheless, because Gemini is so mutable (and, uh, commitment-phobic) this pair might have some trouble locking down the relationship.
—Women's Health, 14 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for phobic
Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Dec. 2024
Conway is mousy, phobic of plane travel, and loves her parents and her cat, a Scottish Fold named Alfie.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024
At a time when many filmmakers are paranoically spoiler-phobic, director Daniel Goldhaber doesn’t mind if audiences know the outcome of his new movie going in.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2023
According To Your Zodiac Sign Nevertheless, because Gemini is so mutable (and, uh, commitment-phobic) this pair might have some trouble locking down the relationship.
—Women's Health, 14 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for phobic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phobic
Adjective
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Keep checking in with yourself, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to pivot.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Sydney Sweeney was not afraid to pull punches when playing real-life Christy Martin in the upcoming biopic about the boxer, which wrapped production last November.—
Rance Collins,
IndieWire,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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All small business owners suffer financially when their employees are taken or too scared to come to work.—
Billal Rahman
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
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An officer said the man was dehydrated, confused and scared when he was rescued, according to WBZ.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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But even in a Congress filled with newcomers, the memory of 2018 (and its electoral fallout for a beleaguered GOP) should be fresh enough to keep people worried.—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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As Republicans work to pass President Donald Trump's reconciliation bill by his July 4 deadline, many are worried about the changes that could be coming to Medicaid.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Otherwise, they are destined to be remembered as useless and timid wimps as the U.S. was slouching toward a dictatorship.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 June 2025
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If the cat remains frightened and timid, talk to your vet about medications that might help.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Phobic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phobic. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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