The Ultimate List Of 550+ Phobias From A to Z

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^{1https://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^{2https://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^{3https://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. 

• Social phobia: also known as social anxiety disorder^{4https://dictionary.apa.org/social-anxiety}, is related to fears of social situations, including fear of embarrassment 
• Agoraphobia^{5https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787057/all/Agoraphobia#:~:text=Differential%20Diagnosis,be%20available%20in%20the%20situation.}: fear of a range of situations where escape feels limited or impossible
• Specific phobia^{6https://dictionary.apa.org/specific-phobia}: fear of specific objects, situations, or activities in five different categories, including animals, natural environment, blood, situations, and “other”

How People Develop Phobias

According to some research^{7https://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

78. Bacillophobia: fear of microbes
79. Bacteriophobia: fear of bacteria
80. Ballistophobia: fear of missiles or bullets
81. Barophobia: fear of gravity
82. Basophobia: fear of falling
83. Bathmophobia: fear of stairs or steep slopes
84. Bathophobia: fear of depth
85. Batophobia: fear of heights or being close to high buildings
86. Batrachophobia: fear of frogs and other amphibians
87. Belonephobia: fear of needles or pins
88. Bibliophobia: fear of books
89. Bibliophobia: fear or hatred of books
90. Biphobia: fear of bisexuality or bisexuals
91. Blennophobia: fear of slime
92. Bogyphobia: fear of bogeys or the bogeyman
93. Bolshephobia: fear of Bolsheviks
94. Botanophobia: fear of plants
95. Bromidrosiphobia or Bromidrophobia: fear of body smells
96. Brontophobia: fear of thunder and lightning
97. Bufonophobia: fear of toads

C

98. Cacophobia: fear of ugliness
99. Cainophobia or Cainotophobia: fear of newness, novelty
100. Caligynephobia: fear of beautiful women
101. Carcinophobia: fear of cancer
102. Cardiophobia: fear of the heart
103. Carnophobia: fear of meat
104. Catagelophobia: fear of being ridiculed
105. Catapedaphobia: fear of jumping from high and low places
106. Cathisophobia: fear of sitting
107. Catoptrophobia: fear of mirrors
108. Cenophobia or Centophobia: fear of new things or ideas
109. Chaetophobia: fear of hair
110. Cheimaphobia or Cheimatophobia: fear of cold
111. Chemophobia: fear of chemicals
112. Cherophobia: fear of gaiety
113. Cherophobia: fear of happiness
114. Chionophobia: fear of snow
115. Chiraptophobia: fear of being touched
116. Chirophobia: fear of hands
117. Chiclephobia: fear of chewing gum
118. Chiroptophobia: fear of bats
119. Cholerophobia: fear of anger or the fear of cholera
120. Chorophobia: fear of dancing
121. Christianophobia: fear of Christians
122. Chrometophobia or Chrematophobia: fear of money
123. Chromophobia: fear of colors
124. Chronomentrophobia: fear of clocks
125. Chronophobia: fear of time and time moving forward
126. Cibophobia: fear of food
127. Claustrophobia: fear of having no escape and being closed in
128. Cleithrophobia or Cleisiophobia: fear of being locked in an enclosed place
129. Cleptophobia: fear of stealing
130. Climacophobia: fear of stairs
131. Clinophobia: fear of going to bed
132. Clithrophobia or Cleithrophobia: fear of being enclosed
133. Cnidophobia: fear of stings
134. Coimetrophobia: fear of cemeteries
135. Coitophobia: fear of coitus
136. Cometophobia: fear of comets
137. Consecotaleophobia: fear of chopsticks
138. Contreltophobia: fear of sexual abuse
139. Coprastasophobia: fear of constipation
140. Coprophobia: fear of feces or defecation
141. Coronaphobia: fear of COVID-19
142. Coulrophobia: fear of clowns
143. Counterphobia: The preference by a phobic for fearful situations
144. Cremnophobia: fear of precipices
145. Cryophobia: fear of extreme cold, ice, or frost
146. Crystallophobia: fear of crystals or glass
147. Cyberphobia: fear of computers
148. Cyclophobia: fear of bicycles
149. Cymophobia or Kymophobia: fear of waves or wave-like motions
150. Cynophobia: fear of dogs
151. Cypridophobia or Cypriphobia or Cyprianophobia or Cyprinophobia: fear of prostitutes or venereal disease

D

152. Decidophobia: fear of making decisions
153. Defecaloesiophobia: fear of painful bowel movements
154. Dementophobia: fear of insanity
155. Demonophobia or Daemonophobia: fear of demons
156. Dendrophobia: fear of trees
157. Deipnophobia: fear of dining with others
158. Dentophobia: fear of dentists
159. Dermatophobia: fear of skin lesions
160. Dermatosiophobia or Dermatophobia or Dermatopathophobia: fear of skin disease
161. Dextrophobia: fear of objects on the right side of the body
162. Diabetophobia: fear of diabetes
163. Diagraphephobia: fear of losing your computer data
164. Didaskaleinophobia: fear of going to school
165. Dikephobia: fear of justice
166. Dinophobia: fear of dizziness or whirlpools
167. Diplophobia: fear of double vision
168. Dipsophobia: fear of drinking
169. Dishabiliophobia: fear of undressing in front of someone
170. Disposophobia: fear of throwing stuff out
171. Domatophobia: fear of houses
172. Doraphobia: fear of fur or skins of animals
173. Doxophobia: fear of expressing opinions or of receiving praise
174. Dromophobia: fear of crossing streets
175. Dutchphobia: fear of the Dutch
176. Dysmorphophobia: fear of a real or imaginary body defect
177. Dystychiphobia: fear of accidents

E

178. Ecclesiophobia: fear of church
179. Ecophobia: fear of cataclysmic environmental change
180. Ecophobia: fear of home
181. Eicophobia: fear of home surroundings(Domatophobia, Oikophobia)
182. Eisoptrophobia: fear of mirrors or seeing one’s reflection in a mirror
183. Electrophobia: fear of electricity
184. Eleutherophobia: fear of freedom
185. Elurophobia: fear of cats (Ailurophobia)
186. Emetophobia: fear of vomiting
187. Enetophobia: fear of pins
188. Enochlophobia: fear of crowds
189. Enosiophobia or Enissophobia: fear of having committed an unpardonable sin or of criticism
190. Entomophobia: fear of insects
191. Eosophobia: fear of dawn or daylight
192. Ephebiphobia: fear of youth
193. Epistaxiophobia: fear of nosebleeds
194. Epistemophobia: fear of knowledge
195. Equinophobia: fear of horses
196. Eremophobia: fear of being oneself or of loneliness
197. Ereuthrophobia: fear of blushing
198. Ergophobia: fear of work
199. Erotophobia: fear of sexual love or sexual abuse
200. Erythrophobia: fear of the color red or fear of blushing
201. Euphobia: fear of hearing good news
202. Eurotophobia: aversion to female genitals

F

203. Febriphobia or Fibriphobia or Fibriophobia: fear of fever
204. Felinophobia: fear of cats
205. Francophobia: fear of France or French culture 
206. Frigophobia: fear of cold or cold things

G

207. Galeophobia or Gatophobia: fear of cats
208. Gallophobia or Galiophobia: fear France or French culture 
209. Gamophobia: fear of marriage
210. Gayphobia: fear of gay men (specifically)
211. Gelotophobia: fear of being laughed at
212. Geniophobia: fear of chins
213. Genophobia: fear of sexual intercourse
214. Genuphobia: fear of knees or the act of kneeling
215. Gephyrophobia: fear of bridges
216. Gerascophobia: fear of growing old or aging
217. Germanophobia: fear of Germans
218. Gerontophobia: fear of growing old, or a hatred or fear of the elderly
219. Gerontophobia: fear of aging or the elderly
220. Geumaphobia or Geumophobia: fear of taste
221. Globophobia: fear of balloons
222. Glossophobia: fear of speaking in public or of trying to speak
223. Gnosiophobia: fear of knowledge
224. Graphophobia: fear of writing or handwriting
225. Gymnophobia: fear of nudity
226. Gynophobia: fear of adult women

H

227. Hadephobia: fear of hell
228. Hagiophobia: fear of saints or holy things
229. Halitophobia: fear of bad breath
230. Hamartophobia: fear of sinning
231. Haphephobia or Haptephobia: fear of being touched
232. Haphephobia: fear of being touched
233. Harpaxophobia: fear of being robbed
234. Hedonophobia: fear of obtaining pleasure
235. Heliophobia: fear of sunlight
236. Hellenologophobia: fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology
237. Helminthophobia: fear of worms
238. Hemophobia: fear of blood
239. Heptadekaphobia: fear of the number 17
240. Heresyphobia or Hereiophobia: fear of challenges to official doctrine or of radical deviation
241. Herpetophobia: fear of reptiles or amphibians
242. Heterophobia: fear of heterosexuals
243. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia: fear of the number 666
244. Hibernophobia: fear of Irish people
245. Hinduphobia: fear of Hindus
246. Hippophobia: fear of horses
247. Hippopotomonsrosesquippedaliophobia: fear of long words
248. Hierophobia: fear of priests or sacred things
249. Hispanophobia: fear of Hispanic people, Hispanic culture, and the Spanish language
250. Hobophobia: fear of bums or beggars
251. Hodophobia: fear of travel
252. Homichlophobia: fear of fog
253. Homilophobia: fear of sermons
254. Hominophobia: fear of men
255. Homophobia: fear of homosexuality, homosexuals, or gays 
256. Hoplophobia: fear of firearms
257. Hormephobia: fear of shock
258. Hungarophobia: fear of Hungarians
259. Hydrargyophobia: fear of mercurial medicines
260. Hydrophobia: fear of water
261. Hydrophobophobia: fear of rabies
262. Hyelophobia or Hyalophobia: fear of glass
263. Hygrophobia: fear of liquids, dampness, or moisture
264. Hylephobia: fear of materialism or the fear of epilepsy
265. Hylophobia: fear of forests
266. Hypengyophobia or Hypegiaphobia: fear of responsibility
267. Hypnophobia: fear of sleep 
268. Hypochondria: fear of illness
269. Hypsiphobia: fear of height

I

270. Iatrophobia: fear of going to the doctor or of doctors
271. Ichthyophobia: fear of fish
272. Ideophobia: fear of ideas
273. Illyngophobia: fear of vertigo or feeling dizzy when looking down
274. Indonesiaphobia: fear of Indonesia or Indonesian culture
275. Indophobia: fear of India or Indian culture
276. Insectophobia: fear of insects
277. Iophobia: fear of poison
278. Iranophobia: fear of Iran or Iranian culture
279. Islamophobia: fear of Muslims
280. Isolophobia: fear of solitude, being alone
281. Isopterophobia: fear of termites, insects that eat wood
282. Italophobia: fear of Italians
283. Ithyphallophobia: fear of seeing, thinking about, or having an erect penis

J

284. Japanophobia: fear of Japanese
285. Judeophobia: fear of Jews

K

286. Kainolophobia or Kainophobia: fear of anything new, novelty
287. Kakorrhaphiophobia: fear of failure or defeat
288. Katagelophobia: fear of ridicule
289. Kathisophobia: fear of sitting down
290. Katsaridaphobia: fear of cockroaches
291. Kenophobia: fear of voids or empty spaces
292. Keraunophobia or Ceraunophobia: fear of thunder and lightning
293. Kinetophobia or Kinesophobia: fear of movement or motion
294. Kleptophobia: fear of stealing
295. Koinoniphobia: fear of rooms
296. Kolpophobia: fear of genitals, particularly female
297. Koniophobia: fear of dust
298. Kopophobia: fear of fatigue
299. Koryophobia: fear of the Koreans
300. Kosmikophobia: fear of space or the cosmos
301. Koumpounophobia: fear of buttons on clothing
302. Kymophobia: fear of waves 
303. Kynophobia: fear of rabies
304. Kyphophobia: fear of stooping

L

305. Lachanophobia: fear of vegetables
306. Laliophobia or Lalophobia: fear of speaking
307. Latinophobia: fear of Latin people
308. Lepidopterophobia: fear of butterflies and moths
309. Leprophobia or Lepraphobia: fear of leprosy
310. Lesbophobia: fear of lesbians
311. Leukophobia: fear of the color white
312. Levophobia: fear of things to the left side of the body
313. Ligyrophobia: fear of loud noises
314. Lilapsophobia: fear of tornadoes or hurricanes
315. Limnophobia: fear of lakes
316. Linonophobia: fear of string
317. Lipophobia: fear of fats in food
318. Liticaphobia: fear of lawsuits
319. Lockiophobia: fear of childbirth
320. Logizomechanophobia: fear of computers
321. Logophobia: fear of words
322. Luiphobia: fear of lues, syphilis
323. Lusophobia: fear of the Portuguese, Portuguese culture, and the Portuguese language
324. Lutraphobia: fear of otters
325. Lygophobia: fear of darkness
326. Lyssophobia: fear of rabies or of becoming mad

M

327. Macrophobia: fear of long waits
328. Mageiricophobia: fear of cooking
329. Maieusiophobia: fear of childbirth
330. Malaxophobia: fear of love play 
331. Maniaphobia: fear of insanity
332. Masklophobia: fear of people in masks, costumes, and mascots
333. Mastigophobia: fear of punishment
334. Mechanophobia: fear of machines
335. Medomalacuphobia: fear of losing an erection
336. Medorthophobia: fear of an erect penis
337. Megalophobia: fear of large objects
338. Melanophobia: fear of the color black
339. Melissophobia: fear of bees
340. Melophobia: fear of music
341. Meningitophobia: fear of brain disease
342. Menophobia: fear of menstruation
343. Merinthophobia: fear of being bound or tied up
344. Metallophobia: fear of metal
345. Metathesiophobia: fear of changes
346. Meteorophobia: fear of meteors
347. Methyphobia: fear of alcohol
348. Metrophobia: fear or hatred of poetry
349. Microbiophobia: fear of microbes
350. Microphobia: fear of small things
351. Misophobia or Mysophobia: fear of being contaminated with dirt or germs
352. Mnemophobia: fear of memories
353. Molysmophobia or Molysomophobia: fear of dirt or contamination
354. Monopathophobia: fear of definite disease
355. Monophobia: fear of being alone or isolated or of one’s self
356. Motorphobia: fear of automobiles
357. Motorphobia: fear of automobiles
358. Mottephobia: fear of moths
359. Musophobia: fear of mice or rats
360. Mycophobia: fear of mushrooms
361. Mycrophobia: fear of small things
362. Myctophobia: fear of darkness
363. Myrmecophobia: fear of ants
364. Mysophobia: fear of germs, contamination, or dirt
365. Mythophobia: fear of myths or stories or false statements
366. Myxophobia: fear of slime 

N

367. Nebulaphobia: fear of fog 
368. Necrophobia: fear of death or the dead
369. Negrophobia: fear of black people
370. Nelophobia: fear of glass
371. Neopharmaphobia: fear of new drugs
372. Neophobia: fear of anything new
373. Neophobia: fear of newness, novelty, change, or progress
374. Nephophobia: fear of clouds
375. Nipponophobia: fear of the Japanese
376. Noctiphobia: fear of the night
377. Nomatophobia: fear of names
378. Nomophobia: fear of being out of mobile phone 
379. Nosocomephobia: fear of hospitals
380. Nosophobia: fear of contracting a disease
381. Nostophobia: fear of returning home
382. Novercaphobia: fear of your stepmother
383. Nucleomituphobia: fear of nuclear weapons
384. Nudophobia: fear of nudity
385. Numerophobia: fear of numbers
386. Nyctohylophobia: fear of dark wooded areas or of forests at night
387. Nyctophobia: fear of darkness

O

388. Obesophobia: fear of gaining weight
389. Ochlophobia: fear of crowds or mobs
390. Ochophobia: fear of vehicles
391. Octophobia : fear of the figure 8
392. Odontophobia: fear of dentists
393. Odynophobia or Odynephobia: fear of pain 
394. Oenophobia: fear of wines
395. Oikophobia: fear of home surroundings and household appliances
396. Olfactophobia: fear of smells
397. Ombrophobia: fear of rain or of being rained on
398. Omphalophobia: fear of belly buttons
399. Oneirogmophobia: fear of wet dreams
400. Ommetaphobia: fear of eyes
401. Oneirophobia: fear of dreams
402. Onomatophobia: fear of hearing a certain word or names
403. Ophidiophobia: fear of snakes
404. Ophthalmophobia: fear of being stared at
405. Opiophobia: fear medical doctors experience of prescribing needed pain medications for patients
406. Optophobia: fear of opening one’s eyes
407. Optophobia: fear of opening one’s eyes
408. Ornithophobia: fear of birds
409. Orthophobia: fear of property
410. Osmophobia: fear of odors
411. Ostraconophobia: fear of shellfish
412. Ouranophobia or Uranophobia: fear of heaven

P

413. Pagophobia: fear of ice or frost
414. Panphobia: fear of everything or the constant fear of an unknown cause
415. Papaphobia: fear of the Pope
416. Papyrophobia: fear of paper
417. Paralipophobia: fear of neglecting duty or responsibility
418. Paraphobia: fear of sexual perversion
419. Parasitophobia: fear of parasites
420. Paraskavedekatriaphobia: fear of Friday the 13th
421. Parthenophobia: fear of virgins or young girls
422. Parturiphobia: fear of childbirth
423. Pathophobia: fear of disease
424. Patroiophobia: fear of heredity
425. Peccatophobia: fear of sinning or imaginary crimes
426. Pediculophobia: fear of lice
427. Pediophobia: fear of dolls
428. Pedophobia: fear of babies or children
429. Peladophobia: fear of bald people
430. Pellagrophobia: fear of pellagra
431. Peniaphobia: fear of poverty
432. Pentheraphobia: fear of mother-in-law 
433. Phagophobia: fear of swallowing
434. Phalacrophobia: fear of becoming bald
435. Phallophobia: fear of erections
436. Pharmacophobia: fear of drugs
437. Pharmacophobia: fear of medications
438. Phasmophobia: fear of ghosts
439. Phasmophobia: fear of ghosts or phantoms
440. Phengophobia: fear of daylight or sunshine
441. Philemaphobia or Philematophobia: fear of kissing
442. Philophobia: fear of love
443. Philosophobia: fear of philosophy
444. Phobophobia: fear of fear itself or of having a phobia
445. Phonophobia: fear of loud sounds or voices
446. Photophobia: fear of light
447. Phronemophobia: fear of thinking
448. Phthiriophobia: fear of lice
449. Phthisiophobia: fear of tuberculosis
450. Phyllophobia: fear of leaves
451. Placophobia: fear of tombstones
452. Plutophobia: fear of wealth
453. Pluviophobia: fear of rain or of being rained on
454. Pneumatiphobia: fear of spirits
455. Pnigophobia or Pnigerophobia: fear of choking or being smothered
456. Pocrescophobia: fear of gaining weight 
457. Plutophobia: fear of money
458. Pogonophobia: fear of beards
459. Poinephobia: fear of punishment
460. Poliosophobia: fear of contracting poliomyelitis
461. Politicophobia: fear or abnormal dislike of politicians
462. Polonophobia: fear of the Polish
463. Polyphobia: fear of many things
464. Ponophobia: fear of overworking or of pain
465. Pornophobia: fear of pornography
466. Porphyrophobia: fear of the color purple
467. Potamophobia: fear of rivers or running water
468. Potophobia: fear of alcohol
469. Proctophobia: fear of rectums
470. Prosophobia: fear of progress
471. Psellismophobia: fear of stuttering
472. Psychophobia: fear of mental illness or the mentally ill
473. Psychrophobia: fear of cold
474. Pteromerhanophobia: fear of flying
475. Pteronophobia: fear of being tickled by feathers
476. Pupaphobia: fear of puppets
477. Pyrexiophobia: fear of fever
478. Pyrophobia: fear of fire

Q

479. Quadraphobia: fear of the number four
480. Quadriplegiphobia: fear of people with quadriplegia or fear of becoming a quadriplegic
481. Quintaphobia: fear of the number five

R

482. Radiophobia: fear of radioactivity or X-rays
483. Ranidaphobia: fear of frogs
484. Rectophobia: fear of rectum or rectal diseases
485. Rhabdophobia: fear of being severely punished or beaten by a rod
486. Rhypophobia: fear of defecation
487. Rhytiphobia: fear of getting wrinkles
488. Rupophobia: fear of dirt
489. Russophobia: fear of Russians

S

490. Samhainophobia: fear of Halloween
491. Sarmassophobia: fear of love play 
492. Satanophobia: fear of Satan
493. Scabiophobia: fear of scabies
494. Scatophobia: fear of fecal matter
495. Scelerophibia: fear of bad men, burglars
496. Sciophobia: fear of shadows
497. Scoleciphobia: fear of worms
498. Scolionophobia: fear of school
499. Scopophobia: fear of being looked at or stared at
500. Scotomaphobia: fear of blindness in the visual field
501. Scotophobia: fear of darkness
502. Scriptophobia: fear of writing in public
503. Selachophobia: fear of sharks
504. Selaphobia: fear of light flashes
505. Selenophobia: fear of the moon
506. Seplophobia: fear of decaying matter
507. Sesquipedalophobia: fear of long words
508. Sexophobia: fear of sexual organs or sexual activities
509. Shiaphobia: fear of Shiites
510. Siderodromophobia: fear of trains or railroads
511. Siderophobia: fear of stars
512. Sinistrophobia: fear of things to the left or left-handed
513. Sinophobia: fear of Chinese people
514. Sitophobia or Sitiophobia: fear of food or eating
515. Snakephobia: fear of snakes
516. Soceraphobia: fear of parents-in-law
517. Sociophobia: fear of society or people in general
518. Somniphobia: fear of sleep
519. Sophophobia: fear of learning
520. Soteriophobia: fear of dependence on others
521. Spacephobia: fear of outer space
522. Spectrophobia: fear of mirrors
523. Spectrophobia: fear of specters or ghosts
524. Spermatophobia or Spermophobia: fear of germs
525. Spheksophobia: fear of wasps
526. Stasiphobia: fear of standing or walking
527. Staurophobia: fear of crosses or the crucifix
528. Stenophobia: fear of narrow things or places
529. Stygiophobia or Stigiophobia: fear of hell
530. Submechanophobia: fear of partially or fully submerged man-made objects
531. Sunniphobia: fear of Sunnis
532. Suriphobia: fear of mice
533. Symbolophobia: fear of symbolism
534. Symmetrophobia: fear of symmetry
535. Syngenesophobia: fear of relatives
536. Syphilophobia: fear of syphilis

T

537. Tachophobia: fear of speed
538. Taeniophobia or Teniophobia: fear of tapeworms
539. Taphephobia Taphophobia: fear of being buried alive or of cemeteries
540. Taphophobia: fear of graves or fear of being placed in a grave while still alive
541. Tapinophobia: fear of being contagious
542. Taurophobia: fear of bulls
543. Technophobia: fear of advanced technology
544. Telephobia: fear or reluctance of making or taking telephone calls
545. Teratophobia: fear of giving birth to a monster
546. Testophobia: fear of taking tests
547. Tetanophobia: fear of lockjaw, tetanus
548. Tetraphobia: fear of the number 4
549. Textophobia: fear of certain fabrics
550. Thaasophobia: fear of sitting
551. Thalassophobia: fear of the sea or fear of being in the ocean
552. Thanatophobia: fear of dying
553. Theatrophobia: fear of theaters
554. Thermophobia: fear of intolerance to high temperatures
555. Tokophobia: fear of childbirth or pregnancy
556. Tomophobia: fear of invasive medical procedure
557. Tonitrophobia: fear of thunder
558. Topophobia: fear of certain places or situations, such as stage fright
559. Toxiphobia: fear of being poisoned
560. Transphobia: fear of transgender people
561. Traumatophobia: fear of having an injury
562. Tremophobia: fear of trembling
563. Trichinophobia: fear of trichinosis
564. Trichophobia: fear of hair loss
565. Triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13
566. Tropophobia: fear of moving or making changes
567. Trypanophobia: fear of needles or injections
568. Trypophobia: fear of holes or textures with a pattern of holes
569. Tuberculophobia: fear of tuberculosis
570. Turcophobia: fear of Turks
571. Tyrannophobia: fear of tyrants

U

572. Uranophobia or Ouranophobia: fear of Heaven
573. Urophobia: fear of urine or urinating

V

574. Vaccinophobia: fear of vaccination
575. Vehophobia: fear of driving
576. Venustraphobia: fear of beautiful women
577. Verbophobia: fear of words
578. Verminophobia: fear of germs
579. Vestiphobia: fear of clothing
580. Virginitiphobia: fear of rape
581. Vitricophobia: fear of stepfather

W

582. Wiccaphobia: fear of witches and witchcraft

X

583. Xanthophobia: fear of the color yellow
584. Xenoglossophobia: fear of foreign languages
585. Xenophobia: fear of foreigners
586. Xerophobia: fear of dryness
587. Xylophobia: fear of wooden objects or forests
588. Xyrophobia: fear of razors

Z

589. Zelophobia: fear of jealousy
590. Zemmiphobia: fear of the great mole rat
591. Zeusophobia: fear of God or gods
592. 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^{8https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms} associated with facing a phobia or having a panic attack include:

• Chest pain or a rapid heartbeat
• Sweating
• Chills
• Trembling
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea 
• Dizziness or weakness
• Hand numbness or tingling

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!

What are the most common phobias?

Some of the most common phobias include:

• Arachnophobia: fear of spiders or arachnids
• Acrophobia: fear of heights
• Ophidiophobia: fear of snakes
• Acrophobia: fear of heights
• Aerophobia: fear of flying
• Cynophobia: fear of dogs
• Social phobia: fear of social situations
• Agoraphobia: fear of places where escape is difficult
• Mysophobia: fear of germs
• Glossophobia: fear of speaking in public or of trying to speak

What are the rarest or most unusual phobias?

Some of the rarest or most unusual phobias include:

• Arithmophobia: fear of numbers
• Plutophobia: fear of money
• Xanthophobia: fear of the color yellow
• Octophobia: fear of the number eight
• Optophobia: fear of opening one’s eyes
• Globophobia: fear of balloons
• Pogonophobia: fear of beards
• Vestiphobia: fear of clothing
• Eisoptrophobia: fear of mirrors
• Phobopohbia: fear of fear

How do you overcome phobias?

To overcome a phobia^{7https://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^{9https://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^{10https://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:

• Recognize the symptoms you experience from things that may be triggering you.
• Seek support from a trusted friend or therapist to work through your emotional experiences and how your brain interprets the object of your fear. 

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