The phobia explorer
You don't need to know its name. Search for what scares you, or browse a topic. Explore 69 phobia explanations and 10 guides, with no surprise scary images.
These are reading suggestions, not a diagnosis. A match does not mean you have a phobia.
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79 pages to explore
Fear of bathing, showering, or washing
Ablutophobia is an intense fear of bathing, showering, or washing. Learn how it differs from a child who hates bath time, what may cause it, and what helps.
Phobia explanation
Fear of heights and high places
Do heights make everyday places feel scary? Learn what acrophobia can feel like, how it differs from normal caution, and what can help.
Phobia explanation
Fear of palindromes, words or phrases that read the same backwards
Aibohphobia is a joke word for the fear of palindromes, and it's a palindrome itself. Learn where it came from, how to say it, and when word fears are real.
Phobia explanation
Fear of cats
Ailurophobia is a persistent fear of cats. Learn what triggers it, how it differs from ordinary dislike, and what help can involve.
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Fear of chickens, hens, and roosters
Alektorophobia is an intense fear of chickens, hens, or roosters. It sounds like a joke, but doctors have treated it. Learn the signs, causes, and what helps.
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Fear of driving or riding in vehicles
Driving or riding as a passenger can feel frightening. Learn about amaxophobia, practical travel concerns, and support that keeps road safety first.
Phobia explanation
Fear of being watched by a duck
Anatidaephobia, the fear that a duck is watching you, began in a 1988 Far Side comic by Gary Larson. It's a joke, not a diagnosis. Here's its story and what's real.
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Fear of being single, staying single, or never finding a partner
Anuptaphobia is the fear of being single. It's not a diagnosis, but research shows how this fear leads people to settle. Learn the signs and how to ease it.
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Fear of water
Understand fear of water, how it differs from sensible water caution, and how to ask for help while keeping swimming and drowning safety in view.
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Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth
Arachibutyrophobia is a joke word for fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. It's not a diagnosis. Learn where it came from and how to say it.
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Fear of spiders and spider-related situations
Why can spiders feel frightening or disgusting? Understand arachnophobia, avoidance, treatment research, and questions to ask before getting help.
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Fear of numbers
Arithmophobia is an intense fear of numbers, either all of them or unlucky ones like 4, 13, and 666. Learn how it differs from math anxiety and what can help.
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Fear of thunder and lightning
Does a storm forecast fill you with dread? Understand astraphobia, sensible storm precautions, and ways to ask for help with thunderstorm fear.
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Fear of humanlike figures such as mannequins, wax figures, statues, ventriloquist dummies, animatronics, and robots
Automatonophobia is a fear of humanlike figures like mannequins, wax figures, dummies, and robots. Learn why they unsettle people and what can help.
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Fear of being happy, or the bad luck some people believe will follow happiness
Cherophobia is a name for fearing or avoiding happiness. Learn what research on fear of happiness shows, how culture shapes it, and when it may need support.
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Fear of chewing gum, including seeing others chew it or finding used gum
Chiclephobia is a rarely used name for a fear of chewing gum. Learn what it describes, how it differs from misophonia, and when a fear needs support.
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Fear of time passing
Chronophobia is an intense fear of time passing. It can follow prison, illness, trauma, or lockdown, and birthdays may set it off. Learn the signs and what helps.
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Fear of confined or enclosed spaces
Do elevators or small rooms make you want to escape? Understand claustrophobia, MRI worries, and what help can involve.
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Fear of clowns
Why do clowns unsettle so many people? Explore coulrophobia, what research says about clown fear, and when it becomes a phobia.
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Fear of dogs
Does fear of dogs change where you walk or who you visit? Learn about cynophobia, sensible caution, and what support can involve.
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Fear of making decisions
Decidophobia is the fear of making decisions, a term coined by philosopher Walter Kaufmann in 1973. See how it shows up in daily life and what helps you decide.
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Fear of dentists or dental treatment
Scared to book a dental appointment? Understand dental anxiety and dentophobia, what to tell the dentist, and how to ask for support.
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Fear of mirrors, reflections, or what might appear in them
Eisoptrophobia is a fear of mirrors or what might appear in them. Learn about Bloody Mary, the strange-face illusion, and when the fear needs support.
Phobia explanation
Fear of vomiting or seeing someone else vomit
Understand fear of vomiting, the worry-and-checking cycle, eating concerns, and what assessment and treatment research can tell you about emetophobia.
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Fear of insects
When fear of insects takes over, everyday plans can get smaller. Learn about entomophobia, sensible precautions, and ways to ask for help.
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Fear of teenagers and young people
Ephebiphobia means fear of teenagers. It began as a term for how adults judge youth, not a diagnosis. Learn where it comes from and what helps if teens scare you.
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Fear of work or the workplace, including going to work or even thinking about it
Ergophobia means a fear of work. Learn what research on workplace phobia found, how it differs from burnout or laziness, and what can help.
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Fear of flying in an airplane
Dreading a flight before you've even booked it? Understand fear of flying, the names aerophobia and aviophobia, and what support can involve.
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Fear of being laughed at
Gelotophobia is the fear of being laughed at, where even friendly laughter can feel like ridicule. Learn the signs, the research, and what helps.
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Fear of crossing bridges, especially high or long ones
Gephyrophobia is a fear of crossing bridges. Learn what drives it, why some bridges offer to drive your car across for you, and what treatment involves.
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Fear of balloons, especially the sound of them popping
Globophobia is a fear of balloons, often of the sound when they pop. Learn what it can feel like, why it may start, and how to support a child or adult.
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Fear of public speaking
Dreading a presentation, meeting, or wedding speech? Understand public-speaking fear, its link with social anxiety, and how to ask for useful support.
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Fear of blood
Scared of blood or worried about fainting? Understand hemophobia, how it differs from needle fear, and what to tell the care team before a visit.
Phobia explanation
Fear of the number 666
Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is the fear of the number 666, the number of the beast in Revelation. Learn what the word means, how to say it, and real cases.
Phobia explanation
Fear of long words
The phobia of long words is jokingly called hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia. The plainer term is sesquipedalophobia. Learn what they mean and how to say it.
Phobia explanation
Fear of doctors and medical visits
Scared of seeing a doctor? Understand iatrophobia, explain what makes appointments difficult, and ask for support without putting off needed care.
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Fear of zombies and the idea of the walking dead
Kinemortophobia is an informal name for fear of zombies, not a diagnosis. Learn where the word comes from, why zombies scare people, and what can help.
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Fear of buttons, especially on clothing
Koumpounophobia is a fear or strong disgust toward buttons. Learn what it feels like, the one published case study, and what help can involve.
Phobia explanation
Fear of vegetables
Lachanophobia is a fear of vegetables that goes far beyond disliking broccoli. Learn how it differs from picky eating and ARFID, and what can help.
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Fear of otters
Lutraphobia is a rare word for a fear of otters. Learn where the name comes from, why it's mostly trivia, and how a real fear of animals is understood.
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Fear of very large objects, structures, or creatures
Megalophobia is a fear of very large objects like giant ships, statues, or buildings. Learn what it can feel like, why it happens, and what help involves.
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Fear of germs and contamination
When germ worries take over, ordinary tasks can feel complicated. Understand mysophobia, contamination fears, OCD overlap, and where to find help.
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Fear of being without a mobile phone or unable to use it
Feel uneasy without your phone? Learn what nomophobia means, why phone separation feels stressful, and when it may be worth addressing.
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Fear of hospitals
Hospital visits can feel overwhelming. Learn about nosocomephobia, how it differs from other medical fears, and what to ask before a planned visit.
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Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark isn't only a childhood worry. Understand nyctophobia, its effect on nights and sleep, and how to seek support without pressure.
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Fear of belly buttons
Omphalophobia is a fear of belly buttons — your own or others'. Learn why navels unsettle some people and when it becomes a phobia.
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Fear of snakes
Does fear of snakes put you off places or plans you enjoy? Learn about ophidiophobia, sensible caution, and what getting help can involve.
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Fear of birds
Ornithophobia is a persistent, intense fear of birds. Learn what triggers it, how it differs from ordinary unease, and what help can involve.
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Fear of the Pope
Papaphobia means fear of the pope. Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary defined it as dread of the pope or the Catholic Church. It's a real word, but not a diagnosis.
Phobia explanation
Fear of dolls
Why do dolls unsettle so many people? Explore pediophobia, the fear of dolls, from the uncanny valley to horror movies.
Phobia explanation
Fear of ghosts, spirits, and other supernatural presences
Phasmophobia is an intense fear of ghosts. Learn what it can feel like, why it often shows up at night, and how it differs from enjoying a good scare.
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Fear of falling in love or emotional attachment
Philophobia is the fear of falling in love or emotional attachment. Learn what drives it, how it differs from caution, and what can help.
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Fear of beards and facial hair
Pogonophobia means a fear or dislike of beards. Learn the word's history as a joke, its link to the Little Albert study, and when a fear of beards needs support.
Phobia explanation
Fear of feathers (often listed as fear of being tickled by feathers)
Pteronophobia is the fear of feathers, often listed as fear of being tickled by feathers. Learn what the word really means, why feathers tickle, and what helps.
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Fear of halloween and the things tied to it, such as costumes, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating
Samhainophobia is a fear of Halloween. Learn where the name comes from, why some people dread October, and how to cope when spooky season arrives.
Phobia explanation
Fear of being stared at, watched, or looked at by other people
Scopophobia is a fear of being stared at or watched. Learn how it links to social anxiety and eye contact, why it can feel like everyone's looking, and what helps.
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Fear of man-made objects that are partly or fully underwater
Submechanophobia is a fear of man-made objects underwater, like shipwrecks or sunken statues. Learn what it feels like, possible causes, and what can help.
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Fear of being buried alive after being wrongly declared dead
Taphophobia is the fear of being buried alive. Learn how it shaped the 1800s, why safety coffins existed, and what can help if the fear lingers today.
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Fear of making or answering phone calls
Telephobia is a fear of making or answering phone calls. Learn why it's so common now, how it links to social anxiety, and small steps that can help.
Phobia explanation
Fear of the number 4, especially in addresses, floors, phone numbers, and dates
Tetraphobia is the avoidance of the number 4, common in parts of East Asia because four sounds like death. Learn where it comes from and when it becomes a fear.
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Fear of deep bodies of water, such as the open ocean
Thalassophobia is an intense fear of deep water like the open ocean. Learn what it feels like, how it differs from aquaphobia, and what help can involve.
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Fear of death or the dying process
When thoughts about death keep taking over, support is available. Understand thanatophobia, everyday impact, grief, and how to explain the fear.
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Fear of the number 13
Why do buildings skip the 13th floor? Explore triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13, its history, and Friday the 13th.
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Fear of needles in medical procedures
Dreading a blood test or injection? Understand needle fear, why fainting matters, and how to ask for support before your appointment.
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Fear of clusters of small holes or bumps
Why do clusters of holes bother some people so much? Explore trypophobia, the research behind it, and whether it counts as a phobia.
Phobia explanation
Fear of cheese
Turophobia, the fear of cheese, sounds like a joke, but a published case report describes it as a real specific phobia. Learn the signs, causes, and what helps.
Phobia explanation
Fear of beautiful or very attractive women
Venustraphobia means fear of beautiful women. Learn where the rare word came from, why attraction can feel like panic, and when it points to social anxiety.
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Fear of the color yellow
Xanthophobia is a rare word for a fear of the color yellow. Learn what it means, why color fears are rarely studied, and when to seek support.
Phobia explanation
Fear of vacuum cleaners, especially their noise
Zuigerphobia is a rare name for a fear of vacuum cleaners. Learn why the noise upsets some children and adults, and when it may need support.
Phobia explanation
Dreading a flight, appointment, or other event days in advance? Understand anticipatory anxiety, useful preparation, and when to ask for support.
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Afraid of falling but not of heights? Understand the difference, how balance and confidence can matter, and where to start looking for support.
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Scared, dizzy, or unsteady at heights? Learn how acrophobia differs from vertigo, why they can overlap, and what to tell a doctor.
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Is it an everyday fear or a phobia? Explore the difference, with examples that help you understand your own experience or someone else's.
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Thinking about getting help for a phobia? Understand CBT, exposure therapy, and useful questions to ask before starting treatment.
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Not sure what to say when someone you love has a phobia? Learn how to offer support, avoid pressure, and help them ask for professional help.
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Not sure how to explain your fear to a doctor? Find a simple appointment note, words to start the conversation, and questions about getting help.
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Trypophobia isn't a formal diagnosis, but the reaction is real. Learn what the research says, why the label is debated, and what actually matters.
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When a fear starts shaping everyday choices, it can help to understand why. Learn what specific phobias are and what support can involve.
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The strangest phobia names, from fear of ducks watching you to fear of 666. See what 28 weird phobias mean, which are jokes, and which describe real fears.
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Try a shorter phrase, such as “dogs,” or clear the topic filter. This is a growing library—not a list of every fear. No match says nothing about whether your experience deserves support.
You can start with understanding specific phobias or talking to a doctor about a fear.
Browse by category
Phobia names can be a mouthful. Try an everyday word like “spiders” or “heights” in the search box, or choose a category above. Each entry explains the name, what the fear can feel like, and what help can involve.
This is a growing library, not a complete list of every fear. If you don't find yours yet, it doesn't mean your experience doesn't matter. The specific-phobia guide is a useful starting point while we add more entries.
Recognizing yourself in an example can give you words for something that's been hard to explain. It doesn't tell the whole story. If you're unsure how ordinary fear differs from a phobia, start with that difference here.