: 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
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 10 Feb. 2025
People who seek treatment usually have a debilitating phobia.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 2 Feb. 2025
This is generally considered the gold standard for treating phobias.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Dec. 2024
Arachnophobia, the clinical term for a , is one of the world's most common phobias.
—Jack Beresford, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
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Noun
The person with a phobia does not want to be terrified of spiders.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 10 Feb. 2025
People who seek treatment usually have a debilitating phobia.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 2 Feb. 2025
This is generally considered the gold standard for treating phobias.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Dec. 2024
Arachnophobia, the clinical term for a , is one of the world's most common phobias.
—Jack Beresford, Newsweek, 24 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 16 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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