as in panic
an extremely strong dislike or fear of someone or something
His fear of crowds eventually developed into a phobia.
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Recent Examples of phobia
What makes treating panic disorder difficult is that these attacks can be symptoms of other conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia disorder (SAD), agoraphobia, major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD).
—
New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2025
For those who have a needle phobia or just want to avoid a visit to the local clinic, here’s how to give yourself the flu vaccine at home.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
However, it was noted that the victim had a low resting heart rate, dental phobia and had a history of fainting, which the complaint said Watkins did not investigate or document.
—Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
Virtual Reality Therapy: Immersive Healing For The Mind VR is changing mental health care by offering immersive experiences that help individuals manage trauma, anxiety and phobias.
—Petr Tolochkov, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for phobia
New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2025
For those who have a needle phobia or just want to avoid a visit to the local clinic, here’s how to give yourself the flu vaccine at home.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
However, it was noted that the victim had a low resting heart rate, dental phobia and had a history of fainting, which the complaint said Watkins did not investigate or document.
—Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
Virtual Reality Therapy: Immersive Healing For The Mind VR is changing mental health care by offering immersive experiences that help individuals manage trauma, anxiety and phobias.
—Petr Tolochkov, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for phobia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phobia
Noun
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Widespread panic and pain People who were not directly exposed to the disaster but who were exposed to the news also experience distress, anxiety or symptoms of PTSD.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
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Naturally the thought of death came into one’s mind occasionally but one tried to be sensible about it, not getting into a panic, not pushing it away.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Dallas police identified the suspect as Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, who is being held without bond on a charge of capital murder by terror threat.—
Nic F. Anderson,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
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Perhaps, though, Kubrick's cold view of Jack and choice to diminish some of King's sympathetic nuances serve to heighten the terror; how much does knowing the complex motivations of a domestic abuser help their victims?—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil is opening up about the major health scare that put the band on hold.—
Emily Trainham,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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And was Ozzy Osbourne showing up posthumously to give us/the (confused) kids one last scare rather apropos?—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Add in the possibility of more extensive – and costly – work such as bridges, crowns, extractions or implants, and the anxiety can grow even stronger.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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The enthusiasm around personal curriculums and independent learning might reflect modern-day anxieties.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Now, a grown-up Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) faces new and familiar frights after her equally goth daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), opens a portal to the Netherworld and reawakens everyone's favorite pinstriped ghost.—
Emy LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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Haunted Scream Park opening weekend 'Tis the season for frights and delights!—
Caroline Ritzie,
The Enquirer,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Phobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phobia. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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