acrophobic

adjective

ac·​ro·​pho·​bic ˌa-krə-ˈfō-bik How to pronounce acrophobic (audio)
1
: suffering from or inclined to acrophobia : afraid of heights
The film stars Jimmy Stewart as an acrophobic San Francisco detective following a mysterious woman.Peter Mergenthaler, York (Pennsylvania) Dispatch, 17 Oct. 2008
2
: inducing or suggesting acrophobia
The trio features gymnastics worthy of the Olympics, much of it performed at acrophobic heights …Karen Anne Webb, Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune, 3 May 2000
acrophobic noun
plural acrophobics
Its rooftop deck and swimming pool are dramatic, but not for acrophobics! Robert Ullian, Frommer's Israel, 2006

Did you know?

The Greek akron means "height" or "summit", and the acro- root can be seen in such words as acrobat and Acropolis. Almost everyone has some fear of heights, but an abnormal dread of high places, along with the vertigo (dizziness) that most acrophobes also experience, are common as well; in fact, acrophobia is one of the half-dozen most common recognized phobias. Acrophobia and claustrophobia both play a role in another well-known phobia: the fear of flying, itself often known as aerophobia.

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of acrophobic was in 1888

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Cite this Entry

“Acrophobic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acrophobic. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.

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