Phobia: meaning, definitions and examples

Phobia is used to describe an intense, irrational fear of a specific thing, situation, or activity. It is often diagnosed as a medical condition.

• She has a phobia of spiders and can't even look at pictures of them

Fear is a general term used to describe the unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. It can be both rational and irrational.

• She has a fear of heights

Dread is a strong feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen in the future. It can be used for both minor worries and serious concerns.

• He felt a sense of dread as the exam date approached

Terror is used to describe an extreme form of fear that is often sudden and overwhelming. It is generally more intense than fear and can be paralyzing.

• The villagers experienced sheer terror during the earthquake

Phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that typically leads to avoidance behavior.

• She has a phobia of spiders and can't even look at pictures of them.
• His fear of flying turned into a serious phobia after a turbulent flight.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome, often accompanied by physical symptoms.

• He felt a surge of anxiety before his job interview.
• She experiences anxiety when thinking about the future.

Fearfulness is a general state of being afraid or feeling a sense of danger or threat.

• Her fearfulness made it difficult for her to try new things.
• The child's fearfulness around strangers concerned his parents.

Panic is a sudden, overwhelming fear that causes frantic or irrational behavior, often in response to a real or perceived immediate threat.

• During the fire drill, some students panicked and didn't follow instructions.
• He felt panic rising as he realized he was lost in the city.