phobic
Definition
Adjective: Suffering from irrational fears; characterized by or pertaining to a phobia.
Usage
The word "phobic" is used to describe a person who has a phobia or to characterize something as being related to or caused by a phobia. It is often used in compound terms to specify the object of the fear.
Examples
- She is phobic about flying and will only travel by train or car.
- His phobic reaction to spiders is severe; he panics if he sees one.
- The patient's phobic anxiety was triggered by the confined space.
Advanced Usage
- In clinical/psychological contexts: Used to describe the condition or symptoms of a person with a specific phobia.
- The treatment aims to reduce the individual's phobic response through gradual exposure.
- As a combining form (-phobic): Used to form adjectives describing a fear or aversion to something specific. This is its most common usage.
- claustrophobic (fear of confined spaces)
- arachnophobic (fear of spiders)
- hydrophobic (This term has a specific meaning in chemistry, describing a substance that repels water, metaphorically extending the idea of "fear" or avoidance.)
Variants and Related Words
- Phobia (noun): An extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.
- He has a phobia of heights.
- -phobe (noun suffix): A person who has a phobia of something.
- An agoraphobe avoids open or crowded spaces.
Synonyms
- Fearful
- Irrationally afraid
- Anxiety-ridden (in the specific context of phobias)
Antonyms
- Fearless
- Bold
- Confident
Notes on Meaning
The core meaning of "phobic" relates to an irrational and often disabling fear. It is stronger and more clinical than simply being "scared" or "afraid." In modern informal usage, the suffix "-phobic" is also sometimes used to form words describing strong prejudice or aversion (e.g., homophobic), which extends the original psychological meaning into a social context.
Adjective
-
suffering from irrational fears
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