phobo-, phob-, -phobia, -phobias, -phobe, -phobiac, -phobist, -phobic, -phobism, -phobous
(Greek: fear, extreme fear of; morbid, excessive, irrational fear, or terror of something or someone; however, sometimes this Greek element also means a strong dislike, dread, or hatred for something or someone)
For more details about the various phobias, visit this Phobias Introduction page to see Phobia Variations Defined and Explained.
There are only two forces that unite men: fear and self-interest.
A strong mistrust of philosophy or of philosophers: Jessica was very apprehensive of the wisdom of understanding the nature of art, love, ethics, the universe, etc. thinking that it didn't help her in her life at all, and her friends considered her to be afflicted with philosophobia!
A disgust of mankind: Floyd was so discouraged and disappointed with his supposed friends that he decided to avoid all social relationships with people and therefore was quite affected with phobanthropy.
An unexplained terror of something: Neal was absolutely frightened of stories and movies with ghosts and spirits, even though he knew that there was no reason for this phobia!
One who has an abnormal fear of something: Roy was considered to be a phobiac because he never wanted to open doors with his hands, or have people shake his hands.
A dread of seeing a listing of phobias: Although Evelyn was interested in odd words, she was frightened of all the terms regarding the overwhelming number of fears and anxieties that people evidently have, and she even developed phobialistphobia!
phobic (adjective); more phobic, most phobic
Relating to a terror of something or someone: When the neighbour's dog jumped up and barked at little Ida one day, she became phobic and hated not only the neighbour's dog, but all dogs from that time on.
The study of phobias: Gladys was so interested in the aversions and horrors that individuals have that she decided to look further into phobiology and learn more about all the different types of fears and loathings people exhibit.
The condition of a person exhibiting an unexplained terror of something: When Mabel's stress level reached a high peak and she became hysterical, she showed a great degree of phobism and went to the doctor to be treated.
An excessive fear of drinking: Dr. Schmidt's patient, suffering from phobodipsia, was certainly thirsty, but was terrified of swallowing liquids, especially the medicine which she thought contained alcohol.
phobogenic, phobogenous (adjective); more phobogenic, most phobogenic; more phobogenous, most phobogenous
Regarding something that is induced or caused by fear: When Belinda saw the big dog running towards her, she was terrified and had phobogenic symptoms like sweating, a feeling of distress and panic, and her heart beat very fast!
An aversion towards words about apprehensions, hatreds, horrors, etc. that individuals can have: After spending months of delving into the meanings of the uncountable terms regarding the aversions, revulsions, and animosities that people have regarding things or people in their daily lives, Ginny probably won't be able to stand reading about anymore of them and will have developed phobologophobia!
An irrational dread of fear itself or of developing one's own fear: Martin's sister had an intense horror of spiders and then he, himself, had phobophobia, scared that he would also be stricken with a hatred of something!
phobotactic (adjective); more phobotactic, most phobotactic
A fear of arrangement or order: Clarence never liked organizing things in perfect formation and sequence, but liked them to happen by using a phobotactic method, or by trial and error instead, especially when he was playing a game for the first time!
In biology, an avoidance reaction of a motile organism: Phobotaxis is a response to a stimulus effectuating a cell or microbe to move in a random direction.
1. An avoidance of speaking or of one's own voice: After Clint had his tonsils extracted, he developed phonophobia and was afraid of talking because of the pain, but he got over that after a while.
2. An excessive or abnormal dread of noise and of speaking out loud: This anxiety can be caused when a person has a migraine and cannot stand hearing any sounds at all and this condition can result in nausea and vomiting.
2. An excessive or abnormal dread of noise and of speaking out loud: This anxiety can be caused when a person has a migraine and cannot stand hearing any sounds at all and this condition can result in nausea and vomiting.
