: an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation
1
: exaggerated fear of
acrophobia
2
: intolerance or aversion for
photophobia
Examples of phobia in a Sentence
Noun
His fear of crowds eventually developed into a phobia.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Beresford, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Sad to say, each of these phobias have been exploited by corporate and government interests to cut down forests in a cynical ploy to tame wild nature.
—Josh Schlossberg, The Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2024
For those who also don’t want that lotion-y feel, or who suffer from phobias around lotion, this is the most thoughtful luxury when traveling.
—Paula Conway, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
On the contrary, hypnosis is a healing tool that helps people with anxiety, phobias, and everything in between.
—Essence, 7 Jan. 2025
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Noun
Arachnophobia, the clinical term for a , is one of the world's most common phobias.
—Jack Beresford, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Sad to say, each of these phobias have been exploited by corporate and government interests to cut down forests in a cynical ploy to tame wild nature.
—Josh Schlossberg, The Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2024
For those who also don’t want that lotion-y feel, or who suffer from phobias around lotion, this is the most thoughtful luxury when traveling.
—Paula Conway, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
On the contrary, hypnosis is a healing tool that helps people with anxiety, phobias, and everything in between.
—Essence, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for phobia
Dictionary Entries Near phobia
Cite this Entry
“Phobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phobia. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
phobia
noun
pho·bia
ˈfō-bē-ə 
: an unreasonable, abnormal, and lasting fear of something
Medical Definition
phobia
noun
pho·bia
ˈfō-bē-ə
: an exaggerated and often disabling fear usually inexplicable to the subject and having sometimes a logical but usually an illogical or symbolic object, class of objects, or situation compare compulsion, obsession
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