The Ultimate List Of 550+ Phobias From A to Z

Experiencing a phobia can often feel debilitating. If you’ve ever been in this boat, you are not alone. Discover the various phobias and how to overcome them!

December 8, 2023 Table of Contents

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If you experience fear, know that you are not alone!

Did you know? The fear of public speaking is estimated to impact as much as 70% of the population 1 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271993200_Is_Public_Speaking_Really_More_Feared_Than_Death , making it one of the most common phobias. Unfortunately, phobias like this can often be debilitating and keep people from enjoying or experiencing life to the fullest.

Watch our video below to learn 7 steps to overcome stage fright and beat performance anxiety:

In this article, we’ll look at what phobias are, how they’re developed, and how they affect people’s lives. Then we’ll share a comprehensive list of phobias from A to Z.

What Are Phobias? (Definition)

A phobia 2 https://dictionary.apa.org/phobia is an irrational fear of people, things, or situations, often causing extreme anxiety or fear in the presence of or in anticipation of being exposed to them. Unlike having a reasonable level of fear that is relatively easy to face or overcome, people with phobias are usually deeply distressed even at the thought of their fears and strive to avoid them as much as possible. That said, the level of impairment caused by phobias 3 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/specific-phobia can vary from mild to serious.

Some of the most common phobias people have are heights, dogs, spiders, small spaces, water, flying, etc. If someone fears flying, for example, they may become physically ill simply thinking about flying, avoiding it as much as possible.

There are three major categories of phobias: social phobia, agoraphobia, and specific phobia.

How People Develop Phobias

According to some research 7 https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=kxuFDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT10&dq=list+of+phobias+research&ots=yBmguOlaTG&sig=ebdhxWcEOST8jMjeqUpj5CaWqPM#v=onepage&q=list%20of%20phobias%20research&f=false , it’s thought that phobias are developed from how our brains learn: rationally and emotionally. As people experience various events or situations, their brain interprets them, files them away, and recalls them in future scenarios to respond accordingly.

As people mature and interpret things rationally, they can filter out irrational ideas. For example, a child might imagine monsters living under the bed, but as they grow up, their rationale recognizes that these ideas are not based on reality.

However, with a phobia, what often happens is that people hold onto a misinterpretation of reality driven by their emotional response, and the ability to process things rationally becomes more difficult. To that end, phobias are common for people who have experienced trauma or who grew up with a model of interpreting their world irrationally.

550+ Types of Phobias A to Z

While the list below is long, it should be noted that a full, complete list of phobias is not attainable as new phobias are continually discovered all the time. Essentially, any object, activity, or situation can become a phobia if associated with a traumatic experience or irrational idea gripped by emotion.

A

  1. Ablutophobia: fear of bathing
  2. Acarophobia: fear of itching or of the insects that cause itching
  3. Acephobia: fear of asexual people
  4. Acerophobia: fear of sourness
  5. Achluophobia: fear of darkness
  6. Acousticophobia: fear of noise
  7. Acrophobia: fear of heights
  8. Aeroacrophobia: fear of open high places
  9. Aeronausiphobia: fear of vomiting secondary to airsickness
  10. Aerophobia: fear of aircraft or flying
  11. Aerophobia: fear of drafts, air swallowing, or airborne noxious substances
  12. Afrophobia: fear of Africans
  13. Agateophobia: fear of insanity
  14. Agliophobia: fear of pain
  15. Agoraphobia: fear of open places
  16. Agraphobia: fear of sexual abuse
  17. Agrizoophobia: fear of wild animals
  18. Agyrophobia: fear of crossing streets
  19. Aichmophobia: fear of sharp or pointed objects
  20. Ailurophobia: fear of cats
  21. Albanophobia: fear of Albanians
  22. Albuminurophobia: fear of kidney disease
  23. Alektorophobia: fear of chickens
  24. Algophobia: fear of pain
  25. Alliumphobia: fear of the strong-scented Allium genus: garlic, onions, chives, shallots
  26. Allodoxaphobia: fear of opinions
  27. Altophobia: fear of heights
  28. Amathophobia: fear of dust
  29. Amaxophobia: fear of riding in a car
  30. Ambulophobia: fear of walking
  31. Amnesiphobia: fear of amnesia
  32. Amychophobia: fear of scratches or being scratched
  33. Anablephobia: fear of looking up
  34. Anatidaephobia: fear of ducks
  35. Ancraophobia: fear of wind or drafts
  36. Androphobia: fear of adult men
  37. Anemophobia: fear of air drafts or wind
  38. Anginophobia: fear of angina, choking, or narrowness
  39. Anglophobia: fear of England or English culture
  40. Angrophobia : fear of anger or of becoming angry
  41. Ankylophobia: fear of immobility of a joint
  42. Anthrophobia or Anthophobia: fear of flowers
  43. Anthropophobia: fear of human beings
  44. Antlophobia: fear of floods
  45. Anuptaphobia: fear of staying single
  46. Apeirophobia: fear of infinity
  47. Apeirophobia: fear of infinity, eternity, and the uncountable
  48. Aphenphosmphobia: fear of being touched
  49. Aphenphosmphobia: fear of being touched
  50. Apiphobia: fear of bees
  51. Aporophobia: fear of people without resources
  52. Apotemnophobia: fear of amputees
  53. Aquaphobia: fear of water
  54. Arachibutyrophobia: fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth
  55. Arachnophobia: fear of spiders and other arachnids such as scorpions
  56. Arithmophobia: fear of numbers
  57. Arrhenphobia: fear of men
  58. Arsonphobia: fear of fire
  59. Asthenophobia: fear of fainting or weakness
  60. Astraphobia: fear of thunder and lightning
  61. Astrophobia: fear of stars or celestial space
  62. Asymmetriphobia: fear of asymmetrical things
  63. Ataxiophobia: fear of ataxia
  64. Ataxophobia: fear of disorder or untidiness
  65. Atelophobia: fear of imperfection
  66. Atephobia: fear of ruin or ruins
  67. Athazagoraphobia: fear of being forgotten
  68. Atomosophobia: fear of atomic explosions
  69. Atychiphobia: fear of failure
  70. Autophobia: fear of isolation
  71. Aulophobia: fear of flutes
  72. Aurophobia: fear of gold
  73. Auroraphobia: fear of Northern lights
  74. Autodysomophobia: fear of one that has a vile odor
  75. Automatonophobia: fear of ventriloquist’s dummies, animatronic creatures, wax statues
  76. Automysophobia: fear of being dirty
  77. Aviophobia or Aviatophobia: fear of flying

B

  1. Bacillophobia: fear of microbes
  2. Bacteriophobia: fear of bacteria
  3. Ballistophobia: fear of missiles or bullets
  4. Barophobia: fear of gravity
  5. Basophobia: fear of falling
  6. Bathmophobia: fear of stairs or steep slopes
  7. Bathophobia: fear of depth
  8. Batophobia: fear of heights or being close to high buildings
  9. Batrachophobia: fear of frogs and other amphibians
  10. Belonephobia: fear of needles or pins
  11. Bibliophobia: fear of books
  12. Bibliophobia: fear or hatred of books
  13. Biphobia: fear of bisexuality or bisexuals
  14. Blennophobia: fear of slime
  15. Bogyphobia: fear of bogeys or the bogeyman
  16. Bolshephobia: fear of Bolsheviks
  17. Botanophobia: fear of plants
  18. Bromidrosiphobia or Bromidrophobia: fear of body smells
  19. Brontophobia: fear of thunder and lightning
  20. Bufonophobia: fear of toads

C

  1. Cacophobia: fear of ugliness
  2. Cainophobia or Cainotophobia: fear of newness, novelty
  3. Caligynephobia: fear of beautiful women
  4. Carcinophobia: fear of cancer
  5. Cardiophobia: fear of the heart
  6. Carnophobia: fear of meat
  7. Catagelophobia: fear of being ridiculed
  8. Catapedaphobia: fear of jumping from high and low places
  9. Cathisophobia: fear of sitting
  10. Catoptrophobia: fear of mirrors
  11. Cenophobia or Centophobia: fear of new things or ideas
  12. Chaetophobia: fear of hair
  13. Cheimaphobia or Cheimatophobia: fear of cold
  14. Chemophobia: fear of chemicals
  15. Cherophobia: fear of gaiety
  16. Cherophobia: fear of happiness
  17. Chionophobia: fear of snow
  18. Chiraptophobia: fear of being touched
  19. Chirophobia: fear of hands
  20. Chiclephobia: fear of chewing gum
  21. Chiroptophobia: fear of bats
  22. Cholerophobia: fear of anger or the fear of cholera
  23. Chorophobia: fear of dancing
  24. Christianophobia: fear of Christians
  25. Chrometophobia or Chrematophobia: fear of money
  26. Chromophobia: fear of colors
  27. Chronomentrophobia: fear of clocks
  28. Chronophobia: fear of time and time moving forward
  29. Cibophobia: fear of food
  30. Claustrophobia: fear of having no escape and being closed in
  31. Cleithrophobia or Cleisiophobia: fear of being locked in an enclosed place
  32. Cleptophobia: fear of stealing
  33. Climacophobia: fear of stairs
  34. Clinophobia: fear of going to bed
  35. Clithrophobia or Cleithrophobia: fear of being enclosed
  36. Cnidophobia: fear of stings
  37. Coimetrophobia: fear of cemeteries
  38. Coitophobia: fear of coitus
  39. Cometophobia: fear of comets
  40. Consecotaleophobia: fear of chopsticks
  41. Contreltophobia: fear of sexual abuse
  42. Coprastasophobia: fear of constipation
  43. Coprophobia: fear of feces or defecation
  44. Coronaphobia: fear of COVID-19
  45. Coulrophobia: fear of clowns
  46. Counterphobia: The preference by a phobic for fearful situations
  47. Cremnophobia: fear of precipices
  48. Cryophobia: fear of extreme cold, ice, or frost
  49. Crystallophobia: fear of crystals or glass
  50. Cyberphobia: fear of computers
  51. Cyclophobia: fear of bicycles
  52. Cymophobia or Kymophobia: fear of waves or wave-like motions
  53. Cynophobia: fear of dogs
  54. Cypridophobia or Cypriphobia or Cyprianophobia or Cyprinophobia: fear of prostitutes or venereal disease

D

  1. Decidophobia: fear of making decisions
  2. Defecaloesiophobia: fear of painful bowel movements
  3. Dementophobia: fear of insanity
  4. Demonophobia or Daemonophobia: fear of demons
  5. Dendrophobia: fear of trees
  6. Deipnophobia: fear of dining with others
  7. Dentophobia: fear of dentists
  8. Dermatophobia: fear of skin lesions
  9. Dermatosiophobia or Dermatophobia or Dermatopathophobia: fear of skin disease
  10. Dextrophobia: fear of objects on the right side of the body
  11. Diabetophobia: fear of diabetes
  12. Diagraphephobia: fear of losing your computer data
  13. Didaskaleinophobia: fear of going to school
  14. Dikephobia: fear of justice
  15. Dinophobia: fear of dizziness or whirlpools
  16. Diplophobia: fear of double vision
  17. Dipsophobia: fear of drinking
  18. Dishabiliophobia: fear of undressing in front of someone
  19. Disposophobia: fear of throwing stuff out
  20. Domatophobia: fear of houses
  21. Doraphobia: fear of fur or skins of animals
  22. Doxophobia: fear of expressing opinions or of receiving praise
  23. Dromophobia: fear of crossing streets
  24. Dutchphobia: fear of the Dutch
  25. Dysmorphophobia: fear of a real or imaginary body defect
  26. Dystychiphobia: fear of accidents

E

  1. Ecclesiophobia: fear of church
  2. Ecophobia: fear of cataclysmic environmental change
  3. Ecophobia: fear of home
  4. Eicophobia: fear of home surroundings(Domatophobia, Oikophobia)
  5. Eisoptrophobia: fear of mirrors or seeing one’s reflection in a mirror
  6. Electrophobia: fear of electricity
  7. Eleutherophobia: fear of freedom
  8. Elurophobia: fear of cats (Ailurophobia)
  9. Emetophobia: fear of vomiting
  10. Enetophobia: fear of pins
  11. Enochlophobia: fear of crowds
  12. Enosiophobia or Enissophobia: fear of having committed an unpardonable sin or of criticism
  13. Entomophobia: fear of insects
  14. Eosophobia: fear of dawn or daylight
  15. Ephebiphobia: fear of youth
  16. Epistaxiophobia: fear of nosebleeds
  17. Epistemophobia: fear of knowledge
  18. Equinophobia: fear of horses
  19. Eremophobia: fear of being oneself or of loneliness
  20. Ereuthrophobia: fear of blushing
  21. Ergophobia: fear of work
  22. Erotophobia: fear of sexual love or sexual abuse
  23. Erythrophobia: fear of the color red or fear of blushing
  24. Euphobia: fear of hearing good news
  25. Eurotophobia: aversion to female genitals

F

  1. Febriphobia or Fibriphobia or Fibriophobia: fear of fever
  2. Felinophobia: fear of cats
  3. Francophobia: fear of France or French culture
  4. Frigophobia: fear of cold or cold things

G

  1. Galeophobia or Gatophobia: fear of cats
  2. Gallophobia or Galiophobia: fear France or French culture
  3. Gamophobia: fear of marriage
  4. Gayphobia: fear of gay men (specifically)
  5. Gelotophobia: fear of being laughed at
  6. Geniophobia: fear of chins
  7. Genophobia: fear of sexual intercourse
  8. Genuphobia: fear of knees or the act of kneeling
  9. Gephyrophobia: fear of bridges
  10. Gerascophobia: fear of growing old or aging
  11. Germanophobia: fear of Germans
  12. Gerontophobia: fear of growing old, or a hatred or fear of the elderly
  13. Gerontophobia: fear of aging or the elderly
  14. Geumaphobia or Geumophobia: fear of taste
  15. Globophobia: fear of balloons
  16. Glossophobia: fear of speaking in public or of trying to speak
  17. Gnosiophobia: fear of knowledge
  18. Graphophobia: fear of writing or handwriting
  19. Gymnophobia: fear of nudity
  20. Gynophobia: fear of adult women

H

  1. Hadephobia: fear of hell
  2. Hagiophobia: fear of saints or holy things
  3. Halitophobia: fear of bad breath
  4. Hamartophobia: fear of sinning
  5. Haphephobia or Haptephobia: fear of being touched
  6. Haphephobia: fear of being touched
  7. Harpaxophobia: fear of being robbed
  8. Hedonophobia: fear of obtaining pleasure
  9. Heliophobia: fear of sunlight
  10. Hellenologophobia: fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology
  11. Helminthophobia: fear of worms
  12. Hemophobia: fear of blood
  13. Heptadekaphobia: fear of the number 17
  14. Heresyphobia or Hereiophobia: fear of challenges to official doctrine or of radical deviation
  15. Herpetophobia: fear of reptiles or amphibians
  16. Heterophobia: fear of heterosexuals
  17. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia: fear of the number 666
  18. Hibernophobia: fear of Irish people
  19. Hinduphobia: fear of Hindus
  20. Hippophobia: fear of horses
  21. Hippopotomonsrosesquippedaliophobia: fear of long words
  22. Hierophobia: fear of priests or sacred things
  23. Hispanophobia: fear of Hispanic people, Hispanic culture, and the Spanish language
  24. Hobophobia: fear of bums or beggars
  25. Hodophobia: fear of travel
  26. Homichlophobia: fear of fog
  27. Homilophobia: fear of sermons
  28. Hominophobia: fear of men
  29. Homophobia: fear of homosexuality, homosexuals, or gays
  30. Hoplophobia: fear of firearms
  31. Hormephobia: fear of shock
  32. Hungarophobia: fear of Hungarians
  33. Hydrargyophobia: fear of mercurial medicines
  34. Hydrophobia: fear of water
  35. Hydrophobophobia: fear of rabies
  36. Hyelophobia or Hyalophobia: fear of glass
  37. Hygrophobia: fear of liquids, dampness, or moisture
  38. Hylephobia: fear of materialism or the fear of epilepsy
  39. Hylophobia: fear of forests
  40. Hypengyophobia or Hypegiaphobia: fear of responsibility
  41. Hypnophobia: fear of sleep
  42. Hypochondria: fear of illness
  43. Hypsiphobia: fear of height

I

  1. Iatrophobia: fear of going to the doctor or of doctors
  2. Ichthyophobia: fear of fish
  3. Ideophobia: fear of ideas
  4. Illyngophobia: fear of vertigo or feeling dizzy when looking down
  5. Indonesiaphobia: fear of Indonesia or Indonesian culture
  6. Indophobia: fear of India or Indian culture
  7. Insectophobia: fear of insects
  8. Iophobia: fear of poison
  9. Iranophobia: fear of Iran or Iranian culture
  10. Islamophobia: fear of Muslims
  11. Isolophobia: fear of solitude, being alone
  12. Isopterophobia: fear of termites, insects that eat wood
  13. Italophobia: fear of Italians
  14. Ithyphallophobia: fear of seeing, thinking about, or having an erect penis

J

  1. Japanophobia: fear of Japanese
  2. Judeophobia: fear of Jews

K

  1. Kainolophobia or Kainophobia: fear of anything new, novelty
  2. Kakorrhaphiophobia: fear of failure or defeat
  3. Katagelophobia: fear of ridicule
  4. Kathisophobia: fear of sitting down
  5. Katsaridaphobia: fear of cockroaches
  6. Kenophobia: fear of voids or empty spaces
  7. Keraunophobia or Ceraunophobia: fear of thunder and lightning
  8. Kinetophobia or Kinesophobia: fear of movement or motion
  9. Kleptophobia: fear of stealing
  10. Koinoniphobia: fear of rooms
  11. Kolpophobia: fear of genitals, particularly female
  12. Koniophobia: fear of dust
  13. Kopophobia: fear of fatigue
  14. Koryophobia: fear of the Koreans
  15. Kosmikophobia: fear of space or the cosmos
  16. Koumpounophobia: fear of buttons on clothing
  17. Kymophobia: fear of waves
  18. Kynophobia: fear of rabies
  19. Kyphophobia: fear of stooping

L

  1. Lachanophobia: fear of vegetables
  2. Laliophobia or Lalophobia: fear of speaking
  3. Latinophobia: fear of Latin people
  4. Lepidopterophobia: fear of butterflies and moths
  5. Leprophobia or Lepraphobia: fear of leprosy
  6. Lesbophobia: fear of lesbians
  7. Leukophobia: fear of the color white
  8. Levophobia: fear of things to the left side of the body
  9. Ligyrophobia: fear of loud noises
  10. Lilapsophobia: fear of tornadoes or hurricanes
  11. Limnophobia: fear of lakes
  12. Linonophobia: fear of string
  13. Lipophobia: fear of fats in food
  14. Liticaphobia: fear of lawsuits
  15. Lockiophobia: fear of childbirth
  16. Logizomechanophobia: fear of computers
  17. Logophobia: fear of words
  18. Luiphobia: fear of lues, syphilis
  19. Lusophobia: fear of the Portuguese, Portuguese culture, and the Portuguese language
  20. Lutraphobia: fear of otters
  21. Lygophobia: fear of darkness
  22. Lyssophobia: fear of rabies or of becoming mad

M

  1. Macrophobia: fear of long waits
  2. Mageiricophobia: fear of cooking
  3. Maieusiophobia: fear of childbirth
  4. Malaxophobia: fear of love play
  5. Maniaphobia: fear of insanity
  6. Masklophobia: fear of people in masks, costumes, and mascots
  7. Mastigophobia: fear of punishment
  8. Mechanophobia: fear of machines
  9. Medomalacuphobia: fear of losing an erection
  10. Medorthophobia: fear of an erect penis
  11. Megalophobia: fear of large objects
  12. Melanophobia: fear of the color black
  13. Melissophobia: fear of bees
  14. Melophobia: fear of music
  15. Meningitophobia: fear of brain disease
  16. Menophobia: fear of menstruation
  17. Merinthophobia: fear of being bound or tied up
  18. Metallophobia: fear of metal
  19. Metathesiophobia: fear of changes
  20. Meteorophobia: fear of meteors
  21. Methyphobia: fear of alcohol
  22. Metrophobia: fear or hatred of poetry
  23. Microbiophobia: fear of microbes
  24. Microphobia: fear of small things
  25. Misophobia or Mysophobia: fear of being contaminated with dirt or germs
  26. Mnemophobia: fear of memories
  27. Molysmophobia or Molysomophobia: fear of dirt or contamination
  28. Monopathophobia: fear of definite disease
  29. Monophobia: fear of being alone or isolated or of one’s self
  30. Motorphobia: fear of automobiles
  31. Motorphobia: fear of automobiles
  32. Mottephobia: fear of moths
  33. Musophobia: fear of mice or rats
  34. Mycophobia: fear of mushrooms
  35. Mycrophobia: fear of small things
  36. Myctophobia: fear of darkness
  37. Myrmecophobia: fear of ants
  38. Mysophobia: fear of germs, contamination, or dirt
  39. Mythophobia: fear of myths or stories or false statements
  40. Myxophobia: fear of slime

N

  1. Nebulaphobia: fear of fog
  2. Necrophobia: fear of death or the dead
  3. Negrophobia: fear of black people
  4. Nelophobia: fear of glass
  5. Neopharmaphobia: fear of new drugs
  6. Neophobia: fear of anything new
  7. Neophobia: fear of newness, novelty, change, or progress
  8. Nephophobia: fear of clouds
  9. Nipponophobia: fear of the Japanese
  10. Noctiphobia: fear of the night
  11. Nomatophobia: fear of names
  12. Nomophobia: fear of being out of mobile phone
  13. Nosocomephobia: fear of hospitals
  14. Nosophobia: fear of contracting a disease
  15. Nostophobia: fear of returning home
  16. Novercaphobia: fear of your stepmother
  17. Nucleomituphobia: fear of nuclear weapons
  18. Nudophobia: fear of nudity
  19. Numerophobia: fear of numbers
  20. Nyctohylophobia: fear of dark wooded areas or of forests at night
  21. Nyctophobia: fear of darkness

O

  1. Obesophobia: fear of gaining weight
  2. Ochlophobia: fear of crowds or mobs
  3. Ochophobia: fear of vehicles
  4. Octophobia : fear of the figure 8
  5. Odontophobia: fear of dentists
  6. Odynophobia or Odynephobia: fear of pain
  7. Oenophobia: fear of wines
  8. Oikophobia: fear of home surroundings and household appliances
  9. Olfactophobia: fear of smells
  10. Ombrophobia: fear of rain or of being rained on
  11. Omphalophobia: fear of belly buttons
  12. Oneirogmophobia: fear of wet dreams
  13. Ommetaphobia: fear of eyes
  14. Oneirophobia: fear of dreams
  15. Onomatophobia: fear of hearing a certain word or names
  16. Ophidiophobia: fear of snakes
  17. Ophthalmophobia: fear of being stared at
  18. Opiophobia: fear medical doctors experience of prescribing needed pain medications for patients
  19. Optophobia: fear of opening one’s eyes
  20. Optophobia: fear of opening one’s eyes
  21. Ornithophobia: fear of birds
  22. Orthophobia: fear of property
  23. Osmophobia: fear of odors
  24. Ostraconophobia: fear of shellfish
  25. Ouranophobia or Uranophobia: fear of heaven

P

  1. Pagophobia: fear of ice or frost
  2. Panphobia: fear of everything or the constant fear of an unknown cause
  3. Papaphobia: fear of the Pope
  4. Papyrophobia: fear of paper
  5. Paralipophobia: fear of neglecting duty or responsibility
  6. Paraphobia: fear of sexual perversion
  7. Parasitophobia: fear of parasites
  8. Paraskavedekatriaphobia: fear of Friday the 13th
  9. Parthenophobia: fear of virgins or young girls
  10. Parturiphobia: fear of childbirth
  11. Pathophobia: fear of disease
  12. Patroiophobia: fear of heredity
  13. Peccatophobia: fear of sinning or imaginary crimes
  14. Pediculophobia: fear of lice
  15. Pediophobia: fear of dolls
  16. Pedophobia: fear of babies or children
  17. Peladophobia: fear of bald people
  18. Pellagrophobia: fear of pellagra
  19. Peniaphobia: fear of poverty
  20. Pentheraphobia: fear of mother-in-law
  21. Phagophobia: fear of swallowing
  22. Phalacrophobia: fear of becoming bald
  23. Phallophobia: fear of erections
  24. Pharmacophobia: fear of drugs
  25. Pharmacophobia: fear of medications
  26. Phasmophobia: fear of ghosts
  27. Phasmophobia: fear of ghosts or phantoms
  28. Phengophobia: fear of daylight or sunshine
  29. Philemaphobia or Philematophobia: fear of kissing
  30. Philophobia: fear of love
  31. Philosophobia: fear of philosophy
  32. Phobophobia: fear of fear itself or of having a phobia
  33. Phonophobia: fear of loud sounds or voices
  34. Photophobia: fear of light
  35. Phronemophobia: fear of thinking
  36. Phthiriophobia: fear of lice
  37. Phthisiophobia: fear of tuberculosis
  38. Phyllophobia: fear of leaves
  39. Placophobia: fear of tombstones
  40. Plutophobia: fear of wealth
  41. Pluviophobia: fear of rain or of being rained on
  42. Pneumatiphobia: fear of spirits
  43. Pnigophobia or Pnigerophobia: fear of choking or being smothered
  44. Pocrescophobia: fear of gaining weight
  45. Plutophobia: fear of money
  46. Pogonophobia: fear of beards
  47. Poinephobia: fear of punishment
  48. Poliosophobia: fear of contracting poliomyelitis
  49. Politicophobia: fear or abnormal dislike of politicians
  50. Polonophobia: fear of the Polish
  51. Polyphobia: fear of many things
  52. Ponophobia: fear of overworking or of pain
  53. Pornophobia: fear of pornography
  54. Porphyrophobia: fear of the color purple
  55. Potamophobia: fear of rivers or running water
  56. Potophobia: fear of alcohol
  57. Proctophobia: fear of rectums
  58. Prosophobia: fear of progress
  59. Psellismophobia: fear of stuttering
  60. Psychophobia: fear of mental illness or the mentally ill
  61. Psychrophobia: fear of cold
  62. Pteromerhanophobia: fear of flying
  63. Pteronophobia: fear of being tickled by feathers
  64. Pupaphobia: fear of puppets
  65. Pyrexiophobia: fear of fever
  66. Pyrophobia: fear of fire

Q

  1. Quadraphobia: fear of the number four
  2. Quadriplegiphobia: fear of people with quadriplegia or fear of becoming a quadriplegic
  3. Quintaphobia: fear of the number five

R

  1. Radiophobia: fear of radioactivity or X-rays
  2. Ranidaphobia: fear of frogs
  3. Rectophobia: fear of rectum or rectal diseases
  4. Rhabdophobia: fear of being severely punished or beaten by a rod
  5. Rhypophobia: fear of defecation
  6. Rhytiphobia: fear of getting wrinkles
  7. Rupophobia: fear of dirt
  8. Russophobia: fear of Russians

S

  1. Samhainophobia: fear of Halloween
  2. Sarmassophobia: fear of love play
  3. Satanophobia: fear of Satan
  4. Scabiophobia: fear of scabies
  5. Scatophobia: fear of fecal matter
  6. Scelerophibia: fear of bad men, burglars
  7. Sciophobia: fear of shadows
  8. Scoleciphobia: fear of worms
  9. Scolionophobia: fear of school
  10. Scopophobia: fear of being looked at or stared at
  11. Scotomaphobia: fear of blindness in the visual field
  12. Scotophobia: fear of darkness
  13. Scriptophobia: fear of writing in public
  14. Selachophobia: fear of sharks
  15. Selaphobia: fear of light flashes
  16. Selenophobia: fear of the moon
  17. Seplophobia: fear of decaying matter
  18. Sesquipedalophobia: fear of long words
  19. Sexophobia: fear of sexual organs or sexual activities
  20. Shiaphobia: fear of Shiites
  21. Siderodromophobia: fear of trains or railroads
  22. Siderophobia: fear of stars
  23. Sinistrophobia: fear of things to the left or left-handed
  24. Sinophobia: fear of Chinese people
  25. Sitophobia or Sitiophobia: fear of food or eating
  26. Snakephobia: fear of snakes
  27. Soceraphobia: fear of parents-in-law
  28. Sociophobia: fear of society or people in general
  29. Somniphobia: fear of sleep
  30. Sophophobia: fear of learning
  31. Soteriophobia: fear of dependence on others
  32. Spacephobia: fear of outer space
  33. Spectrophobia: fear of mirrors
  34. Spectrophobia: fear of specters or ghosts
  35. Spermatophobia or Spermophobia: fear of germs
  36. Spheksophobia: fear of wasps
  37. Stasiphobia: fear of standing or walking
  38. Staurophobia: fear of crosses or the crucifix
  39. Stenophobia: fear of narrow things or places
  40. Stygiophobia or Stigiophobia: fear of hell
  41. Submechanophobia: fear of partially or fully submerged man-made objects
  42. Sunniphobia: fear of Sunnis
  43. Suriphobia: fear of mice
  44. Symbolophobia: fear of symbolism
  45. Symmetrophobia: fear of symmetry
  46. Syngenesophobia: fear of relatives
  47. Syphilophobia: fear of syphilis

T

  1. Tachophobia: fear of speed
  2. Taeniophobia or Teniophobia: fear of tapeworms
  3. Taphephobia Taphophobia: fear of being buried alive or of cemeteries
  4. Taphophobia: fear of graves or fear of being placed in a grave while still alive
  5. Tapinophobia: fear of being contagious
  6. Taurophobia: fear of bulls
  7. Technophobia: fear of advanced technology
  8. Telephobia: fear or reluctance of making or taking telephone calls
  9. Teratophobia: fear of giving birth to a monster
  10. Testophobia: fear of taking tests
  11. Tetanophobia: fear of lockjaw, tetanus
  12. Tetraphobia: fear of the number 4
  13. Textophobia: fear of certain fabrics
  14. Thaasophobia: fear of sitting
  15. Thalassophobia: fear of the sea or fear of being in the ocean
  16. Thanatophobia: fear of dying
  17. Theatrophobia: fear of theaters
  18. Thermophobia: fear of intolerance to high temperatures
  19. Tokophobia: fear of childbirth or pregnancy
  20. Tomophobia: fear of invasive medical procedure
  21. Tonitrophobia: fear of thunder
  22. Topophobia: fear of certain places or situations, such as stage fright
  23. Toxiphobia: fear of being poisoned
  24. Transphobia: fear of transgender people
  25. Traumatophobia: fear of having an injury
  26. Tremophobia: fear of trembling
  27. Trichinophobia: fear of trichinosis
  28. Trichophobia: fear of hair loss
  29. Triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13
  30. Tropophobia: fear of moving or making changes
  31. Trypanophobia: fear of needles or injections
  32. Trypophobia: fear of holes or textures with a pattern of holes
  33. Tuberculophobia: fear of tuberculosis
  34. Turcophobia: fear of Turks
  35. Tyrannophobia: fear of tyrants

U

  1. Uranophobia or Ouranophobia: fear of Heaven
  2. Urophobia: fear of urine or urinating

V

  1. Vaccinophobia: fear of vaccination
  2. Vehophobia: fear of driving
  3. Venustraphobia: fear of beautiful women
  4. Verbophobia: fear of words
  5. Verminophobia: fear of germs
  6. Vestiphobia: fear of clothing
  7. Virginitiphobia: fear of rape
  8. Vitricophobia: fear of stepfather

W

  1. Wiccaphobia: fear of witches and witchcraft

X

  1. Xanthophobia: fear of the color yellow
  2. Xenoglossophobia: fear of foreign languages
  3. Xenophobia: fear of foreigners
  4. Xerophobia: fear of dryness
  5. Xylophobia: fear of wooden objects or forests
  6. Xyrophobia: fear of razors

Z

  1. Zelophobia: fear of jealousy
  2. Zemmiphobia: fear of the great mole rat
  3. Zeusophobia: fear of God or gods
  4. Zoophobia: fear of animals

Phobia FAQs

How do phobias affect people’s lives?

Phobias affect people’s lives in various ways, including preventing people from living or enjoying themselves with a sense of freedom. Phobias can often be debilitating and strike people with such intense fear that they have a panic attack or struggle to function normally.

Some of the physical reactions 8 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms associated with facing a phobia or having a panic attack include:

Unfortunately, the influence of phobias keeps people from enjoying life to its fullest.

To understand the power of influence in our lives, check out this helpful resource!

Become More Influential

Want to become an influential master? Learn these 5 laws to level up your skills.

What are the most common phobias?

Some of the most common phobias include:

What are the rarest or most unusual phobias?

Some of the rarest or most unusual phobias include:

How do you overcome phobias?

To overcome a phobia 7 https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=kxuFDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT10&dq=list+of+phobias+research&ots=yBmguOlaTG&sig=ebdhxWcEOST8jMjeqUpj5CaWqPM#v=onepage&q=list%20of%20phobias%20research&f=false , it’s important to work on changing your mindset and identifying some of your irrational beliefs and the emotions that are attached to them. Ultimately, it’s a process of learning and unlearning. Some of the best ways to overcome a phobia include cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. If the phobia is particularly debilitating and causes panic attacks or other symptoms related to having an anxiety disorder, a medical professional may prescribe anxiety medication.

If you or someone you know struggles to overcome a phobia, we are honored to help you find support. If you are struggling to find the help you need, please note that all content on this website should not be considered professional medical advice. It is always best to consult a doctor or licensed therapist with any questions or concerns regarding your physical or mental health. For a good resource for therapists, you can check out Mental Health America’s helpful list.

How do you know if you have a phobia?

You know you have a phobia when you find yourself reacting to objects, situations, or activities that cause an irrational physical or emotional reaction, including the idea of it. If you have a traumatic experience related to what you fear, it is possible you can develop a phobia related to the trauma. Common symptoms include chest pain, rapid heartbeat, sweating, chills, trembling, difficulty breathing, nausea, dizziness or weakness, and hand numbness or tingling.

How common are phobias?

Phobias are associated with having an anxiety disorder, and anxiety disorders impact nearly more than 30% of adults 9 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder#:~:text=An%20estimated%2031.1%25%20of%20U.S.,some%20time%20in%20their%20lives. . More than 12% of adults 10 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/specific-phobia#:~:text=An%20estimated%2012.5%25%20of%20U.S.,some%20time%20in%20their%20lives. experience a specific phobia in their lives.

How are phobia names created?

The names for phobias are formed by using a form of the Greek word for fear as the suffix (phobia), usually paired with the Greek word for the object that is feared. For example, a fear of spiders is written Arachno + phobia = Arachnophobia.

How many phobias are there?

There are more than 500 identified phobias. However, new phobias are identified all the time. Essentially, any object, activity, or situation can become a phobia if associated with a traumatic experience or irrational idea gripped by emotion.

Key Takeaways for Overcoming Phobias

In summary, take note of these tips to help you recognize and overcome your phobias:

For more on overcoming fears, check out our article 8 Biggest Fears You Face in Life (& How to Overcome Them).

Article sources
  1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271993200_Is_Public_Speaking_Really_More_Feared_Than_Death
  2. https://dictionary.apa.org/phobia
  3. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/specific-phobia
  4. https://dictionary.apa.org/social-anxiety
  5. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787057/all/Agoraphobia#:~:text=Differential%20Diagnosis,be%20available%20in%20the%20situation.
  6. https://dictionary.apa.org/specific-phobia
  7. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=kxuFDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT10&dq=list+of+phobias+research&ots=yBmguOlaTG&sig=ebdhxWcEOST8jMjeqUpj5CaWqPM#v=onepage&q=list%20of%20phobias%20research&f=false
  8. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms
  9. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder#:~:text=An%20estimated%2031.1%25%20of%20U.S.,some%20time%20in%20their%20lives.
  10. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/specific-phobia#:~:text=An%20estimated%2012.5%25%20of%20U.S.,some%20time%20in%20their%20lives.