: 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
Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
So spending the night in a haunted hotel on Friday the 13th, for example, would be a nightmare for anyone dealing with these phobias.
—Tribune News Reports, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025
Forced to eat — 4,000 calories a day or more — I was flung into confrontation with my food phobia and my complex feelings about gender and race, all at once.
—Sarah Aziza, People.com, 14 May 2025
Hartford Courant This has developed in phobias known as friggatriskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of Friday the 13th, or triskaidekaphobia, which means the fear of the number 13.
—Tribune News Reports, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for phobia
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Noun
But sleepaway camp may not be for everyone, including children with a panic or mood disorder, phobia, or who have experienced a recent tragedy or trauma.
—Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
So spending the night in a haunted hotel on Friday the 13th, for example, would be a nightmare for anyone dealing with these phobias.
—Tribune News Reports, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025
Forced to eat — 4,000 calories a day or more — I was flung into confrontation with my food phobia and my complex feelings about gender and race, all at once.
—Sarah Aziza, People.com, 14 May 2025
Hartford Courant This has developed in phobias known as friggatriskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of Friday the 13th, or triskaidekaphobia, which means the fear of the number 13.
—Tribune News Reports, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for phobia
Cite this Entry
“Phobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phobia. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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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