phobic

1 of 2

adjective

pho·​bic ˈfō-bik How to pronounce phobic (audio)
: of, relating to, affected with, or constituting phobia
phobic noun

-phobic

2 of 2

adjective combining form

1
a
: having an intolerance or aversion for
photophobic
Anglophobic
b
: exhibiting a phobia for
claustrophobic
2
: lacking chemical affinity for (see affinity entry 1 sense 2b(2))
These polymers are like soaps, with a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic portion in the molecule.Mercouri G. Kanatzidis
compare -philic

Examples of phobic in a Sentence

Adjective She is phobic about heights.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
Conway is mousy, phobic of plane travel, and loves her parents and her cat, a Scottish Fold named Alfie. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024 Together, the two wrote and illustrated a book that helped the bug phobic deal with the Brood X cicada emergence 17 years ago, and that now, as the red-eyed creatures prepare to make another grand appearance, is landing in the hands of the newly anxious. Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2021 At a time when many filmmakers are paranoically spoiler-phobic, director Daniel Goldhaber doesn’t mind if audiences know the outcome of his new movie going in. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2023 According To Your Zodiac Sign Nevertheless, because Gemini is so mutable (and, uh, commitment-phobic) this pair might have some trouble locking down the relationship. Women's Health, 14 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for phobic 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective combining form

French -phobique, from Late Latin -phobicus, from Greek -phobikos, from -phobia

First Known Use

Adjective

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phobic was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near phobic

Cite this Entry

“Phobic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phobic. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

phobic

1 of 2 adjective
pho·​bic ˈfō-bik How to pronounce phobic (audio)
: of, relating to, affected with, marked by, involving, or constituting a phobia
phobic disorders
a phobic person
phobic anxiety
phobic situations

phobic

2 of 2 noun
: one who exhibits a phobia

More from Merriam-Webster on phobic

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!