acrophobia

noun

ac·​ro·​pho·​bia ˌa-krə-ˈfō-bē-ə How to pronounce acrophobia (audio)
: abnormal dread of being in a high place : fear of heights
acrophobe
ˈa-krə-ˌfōb How to pronounce acrophobia (audio)
noun
acrophobic
ˌa-krə-ˈfō-bik How to pronounce acrophobia (audio)
adjective

Examples of acrophobia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The details of this feat, performed before a crowd in downtown Phoenix, still make those with acrophobia shudder. — Douglas C. Towne, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025 The experience catalyzes a quest to understand and overcome her acrophobia. — Eva Holland, Outside Online, 14 Apr. 2020 Most people know about claustrophobia (fear of closed places), xenophobia (fear of strangers), and acrophobia (fear of high places), but what about macrophobia? — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 One belief is that how a parent handles their child’s acrophobia may influence whether the child will continue to experience acrophobia later in life. — Wendy Wisner, Health, 14 July 2024 Their acrophobia was reduced, according to both questionnaires and skin-conductance measurements. — Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2011 Latest Stories Virtual reality helped people with acrophobia, a fear of heights, overcome their fear and venture onto mountains and rope bridges, researchers said. — NBC News, 11 July 2018 What distinguishes acrophobia is not the presence of fear, but its failure to scale proportionally with actual risk, its persistence even in safe conditions and its tendency to intrude on ordinary life. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 4 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian acrofobia, from acro- acro- + -fobia -phobia

First Known Use

circa 1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acrophobia was circa 1888

Rhymes for acrophobia

See All Rhymes for acrophobia

Browse Nearby Words

acropetal
acrophobia
acrophobic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acrophobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acrophobia. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

acrophobia

noun
ac·​ro·​pho·​bia ˌak-rə-ˈfō-bē-ə How to pronounce acrophobia (audio)
: fear of heights

Medical Definition

acrophobia

noun
ac·​ro·​pho·​bia ˌak-rə-ˈfō-bē-ə How to pronounce acrophobia (audio)
: abnormal or pathological dread of being in a high place : fear of heights
acrophobic
-bik How to pronounce acrophobia (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on acrophobia

Nglish: Translation of acrophobia for Spanish Speakers

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