Definition of PHOBIA

phobia

Plural: phobiae, phobias, phobiæ

Noun

  • An extreme or irrational fear of something.
  • an anxiety disorder characterized by extreme and irrational fear of simple things or social situations
    • "phobic disorder is a general term for all phobias"
  • An irrational, abnormal, or obsessive fear (of something).
  • An aversion or dislike (of something).

Examples

  • He had a PHOBIA of leaving a triple-word score open for his opponent.
  • I know someone with a strange phobia of ladders.

Origin / Etymology

First attested in c. 1790, from words ending in -phobia, ultimately from Ancient Greek φόβος (phóbos, “fear”). Compare ism, from -ism, itis, from -itis, and ana, from -ana.

Synonyms

phobic disorder, phobic neurosis

Scrabble Score: 13

phobia: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
phobia: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
phobia: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

phobia: valid Words With Friends Word