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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?
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 haven’t discovered what terrifies them yet.
“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 significantly between something pretty understandable, like a fear of snakes (ophidiophobia), to something rather weird, let’s say, a fear of long words. You might think the person is making it up the first time you hear about it.
Why would anyone be afraid of words, and what’s so scary about long words specifically? Yet this phenomenon exists, and we should respect other people’s fears. Remember that somebody might not understand why you are afraid of flying. 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, heights, and 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 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 courageous today, let us know in the comments what your greatest fear is.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Irony’s Favorite Word
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia – fear of long words.
RELATED:
#2
Wait, Am I Still Remembered?
Athazagoraphobia – fear of forgetting or being forgotten.
#3
Wait, a phobia for peanut butter?
Arachibutyrophobia – fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of one’s mouth.
#4
Fear of fearing? Same energy.
Phobophobia – fear of phobias.
#5
Not your average bedtime fear
Zemmiphobia – fear of the great mole rat.
#6
Guess Who’s Not Coming to Dinner?
Pentheraphobia – fear of your mother-in-law.
#7
When Worry Gets Creative
Panphobia – fear of everything.
#8
Wish That Ocean Was a Pool
Thalassophobia – fear of the ocean or deep, open water.
C̸̯̤̓̚l̵͖͚͘á̷̦͌ǘ̶̥d̵̩̲̊e̵̜͋͋ ̸̙͈̍̏i̶̤̓s̶̭͊ ̵̭̑͂͜G̸̛̪̩̋o̸̦͒n̸̬͂͆e̵̜͊ 3 years ago
I have this and it is absolutely terrifying
#9
Work? Hard pass.
Ergophobia – fear of work.
#10
Nope, Not Sleeping In This Coffin
Taphophobia – fear of being buried alive.
Deborah Harris2 3 years ago
I had this for a long time as a child after watching Fall of the House of Usher ... it still makes me wince now
#11
Dinner plans? Hard pass.
Deipnophobia – fear of dinner parties.
#12
Guess Which Number’s Public Enemy No. 1
Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia – fear of the number 666.
#14
Who invited the nightmares?
Coulrophobia – fear of clowns.
Zyan Zamisky 2 years ago
I don't have this one as bad as most people surprisingly, but my strangest phobia has to be Kabourphobia, which is the extremely rare phobia of crabs & lobsters
Katie Banks 3 years ago
I'm scared of Krusty the Clown on simpsons, so nobody wants to know how afraid I am of it
Bored Trash Panda 1 year ago
I have this..... I guess watching Killer Clowns from Outer space when I was really young wasn't a good thing.... I worked drive through at a fast food place when I was 18 and a lady came through the drive through wearing a clown outfit (her job) and I hid under the desk in the breakroom till she was gone. Luckily my manager was nice enough to let me.
Zyan Zamisky 2 years ago
I don't have this one as bad as most ppl surprisingly, but my strangest phobia has to be Kabourphobia, which is the extremely rare phobia of crabs and lobsters
María Hermida 2 years ago
I find clowns so frightening! People only see the make up and the colourful clothes, but they are usually pathetic and depressing. People laugh when something bad happens to them because they are *supposed* to be funny, but they are not.
Nicolette Meyer 2 years ago
Strange how this is so common. I just find clowns boring and childish.
Helen Stone 2 years ago
I have a grandson who's horribly afraid of ceramic dolls. He doesn't mind clowns in general, but a ceramic clown doll terrifies him, any ceramic doll does.
María Hermida 2 years ago
I can't stand ceramic dolls with the mouth a little open, as if they are "smiling" and you can see the f... teeth a little. It's a mixture of fear and revulsion. I would never have one at home. I don't know why. It's irrational, I know.
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Ila in Maine 3 years ago
I'm blaming my fear of clowns on Stephen King and that clown with the red balloon. Poor George.
Gini Sarver 3 years ago
omg my friend and i went on a double date…. to the “fright farm” in maryland….. learned quickly the guy i was with had this, learned after we entered a one way indoor to a clown only room… when one of them realized his genuine fear, he came in our direction, he pushed us 3 into the wall screaming for us to get out, he thought we were blocking the exit… i feel terrible for those who suffer from this phobia…. however it was hilarious when it was happening, as i have sat here telling my story, it’s been so hard to not burst into laughter
#15
Family Photo? Hard Pass
Syngenesophobia – fear of relatives.
#16
Commitment Issues, But Make It Science
Gamophobia – fear of marriage/relationships/commitment in general.
#18
When Your Right Side Gets a Little Too Clingy
Dextrophobia – fear of having objects to your right.
#19
When Winning Feels Scary
Kakorrhaphiophobia – fear of failure.
#20
When superstition hits different
Paraskavedekatriaphobia – fear of Friday the 13th.
Danika Seitz 3 years ago
Ironic. I guess the movie creators got what they wanted, those horror loving bastards lol
#21
Perfectionism just got spooky
Atelophobia – fear of imperfection.
#22
Why Are Belly Buttons Suddenly Suspect?
Omphalophobia – fear of belly buttons.
#25
When thinking hurts more than feeling
Ideophobia – fear of reason or ideas.
#26
Who Knew Cheese Could Scare You?
Francophobia – fear of French people and their culture.
#27
Not All Homecomings Are Sweet
Nostophobia – fear of returning home.
#30
When You’re Lowkey Scared to Poop
Coprastasophobia – fear of being constipated.
#31
Dancing? Hard Pass.
Chorophobia – fear of dancing.
Headless Roach 3 years ago
....reminds me of a friend who would actually be better off with chorophobia 🙃
#32
Seriously, Who’s Afraid of the Sun?
Heliphobia – fear of sunlight.
#33
Because tests are the real horror story
Didaskaleinophobia – fear of school.
#35
When beauty feels threatening
Venustraphobia – fear of beautiful women.
Curly potato 3 years ago
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 😁
#36
Nope, Not Ready to Witness Reality
Optophobia – fear of opening one’s eyes.
#37
When Sleep Feels Like a Threat
Somniphobia – fear of falling asleep.
#38
Too Many Takes, Too Little Chill
Allodoxaphobia – fear of opinions.
#39
New Stuff, Who Dis?
Neophobia – fear of new things.
#40
Guess Who’s Avoiding Your Close Talk
Halitophobia – fear of bad breath.
#41
When boiling water feels like a boss fight
Mageirocophobia – fear of cooking.
#42
Nope, Not Today Wasp Drama
Spheksophobia – fear of wasps.
Benita Valdez 3 years ago
Evil spicy sky raisins. My one dog found out the hard way that you should not eat them
#43
Sounds Like My Monday Mood
Thanatophobia – fear of death.
#44
Wait, cotton balls are scary now?
Sidonglobophobia – fear of cotton balls.
Ginger Philhower 2 years ago
*people making phobias* This will be called jhdfbvuvwdiucgsdbcuyuphobia
#46
Never thought knees could be scary
Genuphobia – fear of knees and kneeling.
#47
Because normal nightmares weren’t enough
Kinemortophobia – fear of zombies.
#48
Lefties, Beware Your Own Shadow
Sinistrophobia – fear of things to your left or left-handed people.
#49
Happiness? Hard pass.
Cherophobia – fear of happiness.
#50
England? That’s a vibe.
Anglophobia – fear of England.
#51
Poetry Phobia? Same Here
Metrophobia – fear of poetry.
GIORGI GOGIBERIDZE 2 years ago
When the teacher goes roses are red violets are blue, we all hate you and your family too
#53
Wait, Reading Is Scary Now?
Logophobia – fear of reading (or learning how).
#54
When chairs start looking like enemies
Kathisophobia – fear of sitting down.
#55
When Your Feet Betray You
Ambulophobia – fear of walking.
#56
When Horsing Around Gets Scary
Equinophobia – fear of horses.
#57
Who even came up with this fear?
Pteronophobia – fear of being tickled by feathers.
#58
Plot twist: Fear of being caught pants-down
Gymnophobia – fear of nudity.
#59
Guess who’s afraid of split ends?
Chaetophobia – fear of hair.
#60
Love’s weird little panic attack
Philophobia – fear of love.
#61
Chin Up, But Geniophobia Exists
Geniophobia – fear of chins.
#63
Mirror, Mirror, Nope!
Eisoptrophobia – fear of mirrors
Benita Valdez 3 years ago
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
#64
Chopstick Fear? Same Energy
Consecotaleophobia – fear of chopsticks.
#65
When Quiet Feels Like Loud
Phonophobia – fear of sound.
#67
I Can’t Even Handle That One
Emetophobia – fear of vomiting.
FuryBolt 2 years ago (edited)
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.
#68
Gravity? Now I’m the scared one
Barophobia – fear of gravity.
#69
Why 13 Freaks Us Out
Triskaidekaphobia – fear of the number 13.
DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
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
#70
Water You So Scared Of?
Hydrophobia – fear of water.
#71
When Black and White Just Won’t Do
Chromophobia – fear of color.
#72
When Perfectly Lopsided Feels Wrong
Asymmetriphobia – fear of asymmetrical things.
#73
Wait, people *fear* laughing now?
Geliophobia – fear of laughter.
Bobby Dewa 3 years ago
When an evil villain kidnap and threathen you *kalm* When the evil start laughing *gets heart attack*
#74
When Shellfish Are Actually the Enemy
Ostraconophobia – fear of shellfish.
#75
Not crossing, just vibing
Agyrophobia – fear of crossing the street.
#76
Garlic Haters Unite?
Alliumphobia – fear of garlic.
#77
Stargazing or Star-Shaking?
Siderophobia – fear of stars.
#78
Because asymmetry is way more relatable
Symmetrophobia – fear of symmetry.
#79
When pups become nope-ups
Cynophobia – fear of dogs.
River Denton 2 years ago
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
#81
Okay, this one’s knot normal
Linonophobia – fear of string.
#82
When Plants Become Nightmares
Pteridophobia – fear of ferns.
#83
Why Are Navels Suddenly Suspicious?
Omphalophobia – fear of the navel.
Deborah Harris2 3 years ago
No way ... its being scared of little orange skinned people who wear green ( joke)
#84
Missing bars, losing sanity
Nomophobia – fear of losing mobile phone service.
#86
When Your Wallet Gives You Anxiety
Plutophobia – fear of money.
#90
Hands down, that’s a weird one
Chirophobia – fear of hands.
#91
Rain? Hard pass.
Ombrophobia – fear of rain.
#92
Wait, ants actually freak people out?
Myrmecophobia – fear of ants.
River Denton 2 years ago
if they get under your finger nails and bite you eeehhhh i understand this phobia
#93
When a Breeze Feels Like a Plot Twist
Aerophobia – fear of fresh air or the movement of air—such as drafts or breezes.
#95
Wait, Why Are You Afraid of Food?
Cibophobia – fear of food.
#96
When Reading Feels Like a Horror Movie
Chloephobia – fear of newspapers.
Vix Spiderthrust 3 years ago
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.
#97
The Irony Strikes Back
Eleutherophobia – fear of freedom.
C̸̯̤̓̚l̵͖͚͘á̷̦͌ǘ̶̥d̵̩̲̊e̵̜͋͋ ̸̙͈̍̏i̶̤̓s̶̭͊ ̵̭̑͂͜G̸̛̪̩̋o̸̦͒n̸̬͂͆e̵̜͊ 3 years ago
Eren Jäger does not suffer from this. Facts.
#98
Gold? Hard pass.
Aurophobia – fear of gold.
#99
When jealousy turns into a full-on freak-out
Zelophobia – fear of jealousy.
Colin McDougal 1 year ago
is it fear of being jelous or fear of other people being jelous or both?
#101
When popping feels like a threat
Globophobia – fear of balloons.
#102
Numbers Are Secretly Plotting
Arithmophobia – fear of numbers.
#103
Swallowing Was My Arch-Nemesis
Phagophobia – fear of swallowing.
Quinn Pace 2 years ago
tell them to bring a blender everywhere with them. then they can blend the solids and drink it. make a hamburger smoothie.
#104
Cold? Hard pass.
Frigophobia – fear of being cold.
#107
When Moisture Is Your Frenemy
Xerophobia – fear of dryness.
#109
Wait, people fear flutes now?
Aulophobia – fear of flutes.
#111
When Buttons Turn Into Tiny Terrorists
Koumpounophobia – fear of buttons.
Jack Urquhart 2 years ago
I've had this as long as I can remember, going back to early childhood. To this day I cannot wear clothing (sweaters, shirts, vests, etc) I wouldn't say I fear them (Even the name makes me feel ill) But it's more that they make me absolutely sick to my stomach and I cannot touch or pick one up off the floor) or look at photographs of people wearing clothing with them.
#112
Wait, You’re Afraid of Your Own House?
Oikophobia – fear of home surroundings.
Dante Oliveira Bruno 2 years ago
there was this guy who was scared of his neighbor's pig-themed home surroundings he had oinkophobia
#114
Books? Hard pass.
Bibliophobia – fear of books.
What do you think ?
Lisa H 3 years ago
I didn't see mine in here and I googled it and I don't think it has a name: fear of crash test dummies. Google just showed me articles about them in general ALONG WITH SOME PICTURES, SERIOUSLY FVCK YOU, GOOGLE! FVCK YOU FOR THAT, LONG AND DRY UNTIL YOU BLEED!!!!!!
Nicolette Meyer 2 years ago
Crash test dummies? Not something you are likely to see everyday. What an odd thing. Any idea what brought it on?
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Froggi Juice 3 years ago (edited)
I didn't see mine, so I present to you, Lepidopterophobia, the fear of moths and butterfly's. They have always made me uneasy since I was young but it all really started to take full shape after getting a surprise visitor in the shower, followed by 2 months of a fun moth invasion during quarantine..... I was a wreck.
Lisa H 3 years ago
Oof, sorry to hear that. That must have been horrible.
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Perepan Sherboa 2 years ago
I have kinemortophobia, thalassophobia, nosocomephobia, astrophobia, emetophobia, and nyctophobia. Funnily enough the reason I have thalassophobia is because deep water tends to be dark, and I cannot stand darkness. Do not make fun of my kinemortophobia... I swear to God if I ever watch a zombie movie I'll have a f***ing panic attack.
Quinn Pace 2 years ago
I have a phobia called Scopophobia. It is that I always feel like someone is watching me when I am alone and that I need to get out of the room immediately or I will die or get hurt.
Your Neighborhood Alien 3 years ago
I have a fear of being totally emotionally and physically alone. I.e. literal loneliness and/or no one who actually understands me.
Jack McHue 1 year ago
I have scyphophobia: fear of jellyfish. I don't live anywhere near an ocean.
still deciding gender... 2 years ago
I have a fear of silence, I don't know why. I only recently realized this about me.
still deciding gender... 2 years ago
i didn't see any of mine and i know the have names! fear of spiders, anyone? fear of insects? I cannot be the only one. I also have a fear of harming another living being, (physically)
still deciding gender... 2 years ago
same, it sounds like a really childish fear but tons of people have it
Load More Replies... Lisa H 3 years ago
I didn't see mine in here and I googled it and I don't think it has a name: fear of crash test dummies. Google just showed me articles about them in general ALONG WITH SOME PICTURES, SERIOUSLY FVCK YOU, GOOGLE! FVCK YOU FOR THAT, LONG AND DRY UNTIL YOU BLEED!!!!!!
Nicolette Meyer 2 years ago
Crash test dummies? Not something you are likely to see everyday. What an odd thing. Any idea what brought it on?
Load More Replies... Froggi Juice 3 years ago (edited)
I didn't see mine, so I present to you, Lepidopterophobia, the fear of moths and butterfly's. They have always made me uneasy since I was young but it all really started to take full shape after getting a surprise visitor in the shower, followed by 2 months of a fun moth invasion during quarantine..... I was a wreck.
Lisa H 3 years ago
Oof, sorry to hear that. That must have been horrible.
Load More Replies... Perepan Sherboa 2 years ago
I have kinemortophobia, thalassophobia, nosocomephobia, astrophobia, emetophobia, and nyctophobia. Funnily enough the reason I have thalassophobia is because deep water tends to be dark, and I cannot stand darkness. Do not make fun of my kinemortophobia... I swear to God if I ever watch a zombie movie I'll have a f***ing panic attack.
Quinn Pace 2 years ago
I have a phobia called Scopophobia. It is that I always feel like someone is watching me when I am alone and that I need to get out of the room immediately or I will die or get hurt.
Your Neighborhood Alien 3 years ago
I have a fear of being totally emotionally and physically alone. I.e. literal loneliness and/or no one who actually understands me.
Jack McHue 1 year ago
I have scyphophobia: fear of jellyfish. I don't live anywhere near an ocean.
still deciding gender... 2 years ago
I have a fear of silence, I don't know why. I only recently realized this about me.
still deciding gender... 2 years ago
i didn't see any of mine and i know the have names! fear of spiders, anyone? fear of insects? I cannot be the only one. I also have a fear of harming another living being, (physically)
still deciding gender... 2 years ago
same, it sounds like a really childish fear but tons of people have it
Load More Replies...
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