as in afraid
of, relating to, or having an extremely strong fear or dislike of someone or something
She is phobic about heights.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of phobic
The emails included instructions for editing email signatures to assist tech-phobic workers.
—
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2025
Can the commitment-phobic Marta fall in love?
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
The author has become controversial due to what her critics describe as phobic and abusive anti-transgender views.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 20 Jan. 2025
Some research suggests that being exposed to another person's phobic response can teach you to internalize that fear, as well.2
Not all people who develop somniphobia have risk factors for a phobia.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for phobic
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2025
Can the commitment-phobic Marta fall in love?
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
The author has become controversial due to what her critics describe as phobic and abusive anti-transgender views.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 20 Jan. 2025
Some research suggests that being exposed to another person's phobic response can teach you to internalize that fear, as well.2
Not all people who develop somniphobia have risk factors for a phobia.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for phobic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phobic
Adjective
-
That said, Richie isn’t afraid to switch things up.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
-
Zvyagintsev is not afraid of silence.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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But Wednesday night, they were handed a harsh lesson from a true contender — one that smelled blood against a team that cowered and played scared to death from the 20-minute mark on.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
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If nothing else, the manager is box office entertainment and will not be scared to stamp his authority on what seems like a club in crisis.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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They are lost in the abyss of the deep ocean, unable to recognize themselves or their surroundings, overwhelmed and terrified.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
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But there were no loud gasps or terrified screams during the screening.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Reformers were worried that putting more money into the hands of local school districts, without oversight to ensure that it was being spent effectively, would lead to its diversion into administration and more generous union contracts rather than hands-on instruction for kids who needed it most.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
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Yu said that, as China has strengthened its social safety net, people are less worried about having to rely on others.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Your favorite team probably doesn’t use them much, if at all, because they’re considered extremely difficult and most GMs are timid babies who are afraid of getting yelled at.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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That bill is a direct response to a Supreme Court that handed the executive branch a dangerous blank check and a Congress too timid to push back.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phobic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phobic. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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