as in panic
an extremely strong dislike or fear of someone or something
His fear of crowds eventually developed into a phobia.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of phobia
Social phobia may also be a sign a child may be struggling with a disorganized attachment style.
—
Samantha Mann, Parents, 14 Feb. 2025
Common causes of noise phobias include fireworks, gunshots, vacuums and fire alarms.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Despite its name, photophobia is not a phobia or a fear of lights.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
Social anxiety, also known as social phobia, is an intense fear of social situations.
—Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for phobia
Samantha Mann, Parents, 14 Feb. 2025
Common causes of noise phobias include fireworks, gunshots, vacuums and fire alarms.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Despite its name, photophobia is not a phobia or a fear of lights.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
Social anxiety, also known as social phobia, is an intense fear of social situations.
—Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for phobia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phobia
Noun
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Advocacy organizations that defend immigrant rights such as the Rural & Migrant Ministry and the Finger Lakes Rapid Response Network have held workshops to teach immigrants about their legal rights and to discourage them from spreading panic with unverified reports.—
Ana Ley,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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The eight-episode whodunit, from Shonda Rhimes’ production company, Shondaland, is set in the halls of the White House, where the death of one of its East Wing employees during a state dinner party triggers panic.—
Daron James,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Hamas and other militant groups kidnapped 251 people from Israel during the October 7, 2023 terror attacks.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
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In the trailer, LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Ackles) is recruited to be part of an elite team tasked with preventing a large scale terror attack in Los Angeles.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
28 May 2025
Noun
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In 1972, after Pollard endured a health scare followed by surgery, then-Wheaton College President Hudson Armerding hired Pollard to join Wheaton College’s staff as vice president of finance.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
7 June 2025
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John Bash, one of Elon Musk’s lawyers, briefly entered the race but dropped out last week, citing a health scare in his family.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Giving into your kids to avoid your own feelings of stress and anxiety does more harm than good in the long run, says bestselling author and personal growth expert Mel Robbins.—
Ashton Jackson,
CNBC,
30 May 2025
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More than 6 million have a parent with both a substance use disorder and significant symptoms of depression, anxiety or both.—
Ty Schepis,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Here are the 10 actors who will be bringing the frights to Bates High.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 June 2025
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Objects are often askew and out of frame, and everyday sounds like a toilet flush or blinds being pulled assume a low, staticky growl, as though frights fueled by childish imagination.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
20 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Phobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phobia. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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