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Does standing on the fifth-floor balcony give you weak knees? Is the mere mention of spiders enough to make you scream? Or maybe you can’t stay in a room without at least one lamp on? Don’t worry, you are not alone; we all have our fears. In fact, scientists state that fear is one of the most human emotions, one that comes from ancient times. Those who claim they fear nothing either don’t want to reveal their weak spots or just haven’t discovered the thing that terrifies them yet. 

The word “phobia” comes from Greek and translates as “fear.” Scientists use this word to name fears of various things – for example, claustrophobia, which is the fear of closed spaces. Phobias can vary greatly between something pretty understandable, like a fear of snakes (ophidiophobia), to something rather weird, let’s say, a fear of long words. The first time you hear about it, you might think the person is making it up. Like why would anyone be afraid of words, and what’s so scary about long words specifically? Yet this phenomenon exists, and we should be respectful towards other people’s fears. Remember that somebody might not understand why you are afraid of flying. By the way, it might sound ironic, but the scientific name for the fear of long words consists of 35 (thirty-five!) letters.   

Arachnophobia, or fear of spiders, is probably the most common phobia, alongside fear of snakes, fear of heights, and fear of flying. It is estimated that at least one in three women and one in four men are afraid of spiders. It is difficult to say what the rarest phobias are, but some weird examples include fear of clothing, fear of beards, and fear of work (I think every now and then we all have this phobia at least a bit).  

There are various reasons why people develop phobias, and scientists are still studying the deeper roots and possible treatments. But if you want to learn all about phobias that sound rather weird, read about them in our article. If you are feeling particularly brave today, let us know in the comments what your greatest fear is.

#1

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia – fear of long words.

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#3

Arachibutyrophobia – fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of one’s mouth.

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#8

Taphophobia – fear of being buried alive.

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Deborah Harris2
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had this for a long time as a child after watching Fall of the House of Usher ... it still makes me wince now

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#11

Pentheraphobia – fear of your mother-in-law.

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#12

Decidophobia – fear of making decisions.

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#13

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia – fear of the number 666.

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#16

Gamophobia – fear of marriage/relationships/commitment in general.

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#17

Peladphobia – fear of bald people.

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#18

Dextrophobia – fear of having objects to your right.

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#20

Anuptaphobia – fear of being single.

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Lene
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So many ppl have this.... so they stay in awful relationships because they fear being single again. It's actually quite sad.

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#22

Bananaphobia – fear of bananas.

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#26

Paraskavedekatriaphobia – fear of Friday the 13th.

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#27

Francophobia – fear of French people and their culture.

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#28

Euphobia – fear of good news.

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Buren
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You get a promotion -GAHHHH Here is cake for you -GAHHHHHHHH You won lottery so you never have to work again -GAHHHHHHHHHHHHH

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#30

Chorophobia – fear of dancing.

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Headless Roach
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

....reminds me of a friend who would actually be better off with chorophobia 🙃

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#31

Heliphobia – fear of sunlight.

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#34

Spheksophobia – fear of wasps.

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Benita Valdez
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Evil spicy sky raisins. My one dog found out the hard way that you should not eat them

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#35

Optophobia – fear of opening one’s eyes.

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#38

Mageirocophobia – fear of cooking.

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#39

Sidonglobophobia – fear of cotton balls.

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#40

Papaphobia – fear of The Pope.

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alias D.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

!!!(Trigger alert)!!! If I was a child in a religious institution with no one around to hear me scream I would be scared too

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#43

Venustraphobia – fear of beautiful women.

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Curly potato
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn, it all makes sense now! Everyone around me seems to be suffering from this. Used to think it was me, but I completely understand now 😁

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#44

Sinistrophobia – fear of things to your left or left-handed people.

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#45

Thanatophobia – fear of death.

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tinker bell
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1 year ago

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#49

Logophobia – fear of reading (or learning how).

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#55

Metrophobia – fear of poetry.

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GIORGI GOGIBERIDZE
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When the teacher goes roses are red violets are blue, we all hate you and your family too

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#57

Pteronophobia – fear of being tickled by feathers.

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#61

Ostraconophobia – fear of shellfish.

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#62

Geniophobia – fear of chins.

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#64

Eisoptrophobia – fear of mirrors

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Benita Valdez
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had it for a while as kid after watching Poltergeist 3. I'm ok with mirrors now at 39 but I still can't sleep if I'm across from a mirror; has to be moved or covered

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#67

Zoophobia – fear of all animals.

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Lene
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Loooool! I went with my cousins to the zoo one evening years ago. My youngest cousin would scream and run away every time an animal looked at her. It happened a LOT! LOL. I think she was genuinely scared, though.

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#68

Emetophobia – fear of vomiting.

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FuryBolt
Community Member
12 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 13, and I have been suffering from this fear for a while. If I feel nauseous, I tend to panic because of the fact it could lead to vomiting. If possible, I find an assistant I know to help me. Mainly my parents. If I hear anyone saying something like "I don't feel good", or if I see them leaning near a garbage can/toilet/bag or seeing vomit, or if I hear vomiting or gagging noises, I end up getting panic attacks/covering my ears. If possible, I find an exit and leave. If not, I cry/scream in terror. What makes it ridiculous is people think I'm overreacting because of something I'm afraid of, and I get vomiting nightmares sometimes but rarely. It's that bad. I wish people can understand my fears, and I wish the vomiting nightmares stop occurring when I sleep sometimes. I don't think I'll ever overcome this fear. And even if I try, I'll fail immediately.

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#71

Triskaidekaphobia – fear of the number 13.

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DennyS (denzoren)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

13 was my number in football. People didn't like it because they saw it as an omen. Helped me to seem more intimidating on the field. Lol

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#74

Cynophobia – fear of dogs.

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River Denton
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i love dogs i have three of them but one of them died i miss him his name was rambo he could fit in a mug when he was a puppy

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#75

Asymmetriphobia – fear of asymmetrical things.

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#76

Geliophobia – fear of laughter.

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Bobby Dewa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When an evil villain kidnap and threathen you *kalm* When the evil start laughing *gets heart attack*

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#77

Omphalophobia – fear of the navel.

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Deborah Harris2
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No way ... its being scared of little orange skinned people who wear green ( joke)

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#80

Siderophobia – fear of stars.

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#82

Xanthophobia – fear of yellow.

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#87

Ablutophobia – fear of bathing.

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Deb Smith
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sister is bipolar and has additional mental disorders and she feels like the shower water is hurting her, yet she loves being out in the rain. It's weird how the mind can conceive things!

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#88

Ephebiphobia – fear of adolescents.

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#91

Phagophobia – fear of swallowing.

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Quinn Pace
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

tell them to bring a blender everywhere with them. then they can blend the solids and drink it. make a hamburger smoothie.

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#93

Aerophobia – fear of fresh air or the movement of air—such as drafts or breezes.

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#95

Chloephobia – fear of newspapers.

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Vix Spiderthrust
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wondered about the etymology of this so I looked it up. Turns out it had never been used before appearing on the internet in 2008. Doesn't make sense from the Greek roots so clearly some amateur lexicographer made it up and it stuck.

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#98

Zelophobia – fear of jealousy.

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happy_sunflower
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh im more prettier than you! um no your not!! so JEALOUS *gets heart attack*

#99

Coimetrophobia – fear of cemeteries.

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Deb Smith
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think everybody, or nearly everyone has this. Especially the older cemeteries with rotting bodies and not just ashes. It's the ending of lives.

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#101

Nomophobia – fear of losing mobile phone service.

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#102

Myrmecophobia – fear of ants.

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River Denton
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if they get under your finger nails and bite you eeehhhh i understand this phobia

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#104

Pupaphobia – fear of puppets.

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#107

Ereuthophobia – fear of blushing/red.

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august is mentally unstable
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1 year ago

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#108

Aulophobia – fear of flutes.

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#109

Oikophobia – fear of home surroundings.

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Dante Oliveira Bruno
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

there was this guy who was scared of his neighbor's pig-themed home surroundings he had oinkophobia

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#110

Pogonophobia – fear of beards.

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Eva
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hope they wouldn't have the fear of bald people if they were to meet my dad

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