An abnormal aversion of dining with other people and having conversations while eating: Toby, who was afflicted with deipnophobia, usually enjoyed his meal in silence and alone and, when he was with others at the table, he would usually request that they not talk while chewing their food.

A person who has deipnophobia may suffer from any of a number of related fears, such as someone choking or talking with their mouths full and looking ridiculous while they are opening their mouths to talk before swallowing what they are chewing.