: an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation
1
: exaggerated fear of
acrophobia
2
: intolerance or aversion for
photophobia
Examples of phobia in a Sentence
Noun
His fear of crowds eventually developed into a phobia.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jamie Barton, CNN, 6 Sep. 2024
Young children commonly fear death and may develop phobias around it.
—Wendy Wisner, Health, 26 July 2024
The list is long, but two of the frontrunners include possessing an irrational phobia of the banana (never had one, never will) and being an abysmal sight reader.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 26 June 2024
Specific phobias are common, with about 12.5% of adults experiencing one during their lifetime.
—Wendy Wisner, Health, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for phobia 
Noun
Despite being left with a phobia of water, the 24-year-old reconnected with her old coach James Barone in September 2023, according to The Guardian.
—Jamie Barton, CNN, 6 Sep. 2024
Young children commonly fear death and may develop phobias around it.
—Wendy Wisner, Health, 26 July 2024
The list is long, but two of the frontrunners include possessing an irrational phobia of the banana (never had one, never will) and being an abysmal sight reader.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 26 June 2024
Specific phobias are common, with about 12.5% of adults experiencing one during their lifetime.
—Wendy Wisner, Health, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for phobia
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'phobia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near phobia
Cite this Entry
“Phobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phobia. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
phobia
noun
pho·bia
ˈfō-bē-ə 
: an unreasonable, abnormal, and lasting fear of something
Medical Definition
phobia
noun
pho·bia
ˈfō-bē-ə
: an exaggerated and often disabling fear usually inexplicable to the subject and having sometimes a logical but usually an illogical or symbolic object, class of objects, or situation compare compulsion, obsession
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