Different people react differently to various stimuli. While some people like the thrill of mountaineering, some others fear height. The term, which we use for describing irrational and excessive fear is, ‘phobia’.A person experiencing a phobia of something feels a deep sense of dread or panic upon encountering their source of fear. Generally, there is something specific, like an object, place, phenomenon, etc. that gives rise to phobia. The examples of some most common phobias are aquaphobia, acrophobia, arachnophobia, etc. Read on to find out what these terms mean.
On the other hand, an undue inclination towards a specific object, place, thing, occurrence, etc. is termed as ‘philia‘. Below is a list of common phobia/ manias/philias. Go through the list and try to remember as many terms as you can. In addition to improving your general knowledge, this list will also enhance your vocabulary.
List of Common Phobia, Manias and Philias:
| Phobia | Object |
| Achluophobia | Fear of darkness |
| Acrophobia | Fear of heights |
| Agraphobia | Fear of sexual abuse |
| Agrizoophobia | Fear of wild animals |
| Agyrophobia | Fear of crossing the road |
| Aichmophobia | Fear of sharp or pointed objects (needle, knifeetc.) |
| Ailurophobia | Fear of cats |
| Algophobia | Fear of pain |
| Aquaphobia | Fear of water |
| Archnophobia | Fear of spiders |
| Astraphobia | Fear of thunder and lightning |
| Atychiphobia | Fear of failure |
| Autophobia | Fear of being alone or isolated or of one’s self |
| Aviophobia | Fear of flying |
| Chronophobia | Fear of time and time moving forward |
| Cleithrophobia | The fear of being trapped |
| Coulrophobia | Fear of clowns (not restricted to evil clowns) |
| Gamophobia | Fear of marriage, commitment |
| Gephyrophobia | Fear of bridges |
| Glossophobia | Fear of speaking in public or of trying to speak |
| Halitophobia | Fear of bad breath |
| Hemophobia | Fear of blood |
| Hylophobia | Fear of trees, forests or wood |
| Melissophobia | Fear of bees |
| Myrmecophobia | Fear of ants |
| Mysophobia | Fear of germs, contamination or dirt |
| Necrophobia | Fear of death and/or the dead |
| Oikophobia | Fear of home surroundings and household appliances |
| Ombrophobia | Fear of rain |
| Optophobia | Fear of opening one’s eyes |
| Phasmophobia | Fear of ghosts or phantoms |
| Phonophobia | Fear of loud sounds |
| Pyrophobia | Fear of fire |
| Sophophobia | The fear of learning |
| Spectrophobia | Fear of mirrors |
| Thalassophobia | Fear of the sea, or fear of being in the ocean |
| Xenophobia | Fear of strangers, foreigners, or aliens |
| Xylophobia | Fear of trees, forests or wood |
| Apiphobia | Fear/dislike of bees |
| Arachnophobia | Fear/dislike of spiders and other arachnids |
| Cynophobia | Fear/dislike of dogs |
| Entomophobia | Fear/dislike of insects |
