phobia
A phobia is an intense fear or anxiety about something specific. It's not just being careful or cautious, it's more like a strong feeling that can make you uncomfortable or even stop you from doing things.
When we talk about someone having a phobia, we usually mean that they have an irrational or extreme reaction to something that might seem normal to others. For example, if someone has a fear of spiders (arachnophobia), it doesn't necessarily mean they're going to get hurt by one, but their anxiety about spiders is really strong and can affect how they behave in certain situations. People with phobias often try to avoid the thing that triggers their fear, or use coping mechanisms like deep breathing exercises to deal with the anxiety.
How common is "phobia"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
noun
An irrational, abnormal, or obsessive fear (of something).
Example: I know someone with a strange phobia of ladders.
Real examples of "phobia" in context
