A fear of clouds can affect everyday situations involving dark clouds, storm clouds, overcast sky and cloudy weather.

Possible triggers

Noticing cloud cover building, looking up at a cloudy sky or seeing cloud formations in photographs.

Name origin

From Greek nephos (cloud) and -phobia.

A fear of clowns can affect parties, circuses, entertainment venues, advertising and events where a clown might appear. It may lead to checking in advance, avoiding particular events, leaving suddenly or becoming highly alert to clown faces, costumes or make-up.

Possible triggers

Encountering a clown at an event, seeing clown make-up or watching a clown character on screen.

Name origin

Origin uncertain; possibly from Greek kolobatheron (stilt-walker) combined with -phobia.

A fear of cold temperatures can affect everyday situations involving cold weather, icy air, winter cold and low temperature.

Possible triggers

Stepping outside on a cold morning, entering a chilled room or anticipating a winter journey.

Name origin

From Greek kryos (icy cold) and -phobia.

Also known as

Cheimaphobia, Psychropophobia

A fear of comets can affect everyday situations involving night sky event, comet in the sky, celestial object and comet.

Possible triggers

Reading news about an approaching comet, seeing comet photographs or being invited to observe one.

Name origin

From Greek komētēs (long-haired star) and -phobia.

A fear of dawn or daylight can affect everyday situations involving early morning light, morning sky, sunrise and daybreak.

Possible triggers

Noticing the sky brighten before sunrise, waking as daylight enters the room or anticipating dawn.

Name origin

From Greek Eos (goddess of dawn) and -phobia.

The focus is material that is decaying, rather than germs or dirt in general.

Possible triggers

Finding spoiled food, encountering rotting plant material or noticing the smell of decay.

Possible name origin

The origin of this name is unclear. The ending -phobia comes from Greek phobos (fear); a reliable derivation of the first part has not been established.

A fear of deep or open sea can affect everyday situations involving far from shore, boat in open water, deep sea and open water.

Possible triggers

Looking out over open sea, travelling by boat away from shore or seeing deep underwater footage.

Name origin

From Greek thalassa (sea) and -phobia.

A fear of dental treatment can affect everyday situations involving root canal, dental surgery, dentist and drill. It may lead to postponing appointments or treatment, worrying for days beforehand, seeking repeated reassurance, or avoiding healthcare that would otherwise be straightforward.

Possible triggers

Examples include hearing a dental drill, noticing the smells inside a dental practice, reclining in the treatment chair or thinking about an upcoming appointment.

Name origin

From Latin dens (tooth) and -phobia.

Also known as

Odontophobia

A fear of depths can affect everyday situations involving looking into depth, deep hole, cliff edge and deep pit.

Possible triggers

Looking into a deep well, standing above a quarry or seeing a steep drop below a viewing point.

Name origin

From Greek bathos (depth) and -phobia.

A fear of dolls can affect toy shops, homes, museums and displays containing dolls, mannequins or lifelike figures. It may lead to avoiding certain rooms or places, turning objects away, checking where dolls are positioned or asking other people to remove them.

Possible triggers

Entering a room with displayed dolls, opening a box containing a doll or seeing one in a shop window.

Name origin

From Greek pais (child) and -phobia.