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PHOBIA DIRECTORY
A–Z list of phobias, fears and their meanings
Explore our extensive A–Z directory of phobias and fears, bringing together clear meanings, alternative names and name origins in one searchable resource. Search by phobia name, object, situation or everyday experience, and explore specialist guides for a deeper understanding of the fears that matter to you.
PHOBIA NAMES & MEANINGS
Search the phobia directory
Find a guide using an everyday fear name or a clinical term, or browse by type and letter.
Browse by type or letter
Paraskavedekatriaphobia: fear of Friday the 13th
An informal name for fear focused on Friday the 13th, rather than the number thirteen in every setting.
- Possible triggers
- Noticing an upcoming Friday the thirteenth or arranging a journey or appointment on that date.
- Name origin
- A modern formation using Greek paraskeue (Friday), dekatria (thirteen) and phobos (fear).
Batrachophobia: fear of frogs or toads
A fear of frogs or toads can affect everyday situations involving frog jumping, pond frog, amphibian and frogs. It may lead to scanning surroundings, avoiding places where the animal might appear, asking other people to check or deal with it, or leaving suddenly when one is seen.
- Possible triggers
- Noticing a frog near a pond, encountering a toad on a path or viewing close-up amphibian footage.
- Name origin
- From Greek batrachos (frog) and -phobia.
- Also known as
- Batracophobia
Alliumphobia: fear of garlic
A fear of garlic can affect everyday situations involving cooking garlic, garlic smell, raw garlic and garlic breath. It may lead to restricting foods, checking ingredients or preparation, avoiding meals, shops or restaurants, or relying heavily on familiar choices.
- Possible triggers
- Smelling garlic during cooking, seeing garlic on a menu or being served food containing it.
- Name origin
- From Latin allium (garlic) and -phobia.
Panphobia: fear of generalised or undefined fear
A broad or undefined sense of fear can affect many parts of everyday life even when there is no single clear trigger. It may involve constant scanning for danger, avoiding unfamiliar situations, seeking reassurance or finding it difficult to relax because something always feels as though it could go wrong.
- Possible triggers
- There may be no single clear trigger. An ordinary activity or uncertain situation may become a focus of a broader, undefined sense of fear.
- Name origin
- From Greek pan (all) and -phobia.
- Also known as
- Panophobia, Pantophobia
Mysophobia: fear of germs or contamination
A fear of germs or contamination can affect touching everyday surfaces, using public places, eating, travel and contact with other people. It may lead to repeated washing or cleaning, checking, reassurance-seeking or avoiding situations that feel contaminated even when ordinary hygiene would be sufficient.
- Possible triggers
- Touching a shared surface, using a public bathroom or worrying that an object has become contaminated.
- Name origin
- From Greek mysos (pollution or contamination) and -phobia.
- Also known as
- Molysmophobia, Rhypophobia, Rupophobia, Germophobia, Verminophobia, Misophobia
Hyalophobia: fear of glass objects
Glass as a material is the focus of the fear.
- Possible triggers
- Handling a drinking glass, approaching a glass display or seeing broken glass.
- Name origin
- From Greek hyalos (glass) and phobos (fear).
- Also known as
- Crystallophobia, Nelophobia
Theophobia: fear of God or divine anger
The fear can centre on God or on the prospect of divine anger.
- Possible triggers
- Hearing discussion of divine judgement, taking part in worship or thinking about divine anger.
- Name origin
- A New Latin formation using theo-, from Greek theos (God), and phobia, from Greek phobos (fear).
Clinophobia: fear of going to bed
A fear of going to bed can affect everyday situations involving lying in bed, bedroom at night, night time and going to bed. It may lead to delaying bedtime, staying alert when tired, changing sleep routines, needing reassurance, or avoiding situations associated with sleep or night-time.
- Possible triggers
- Beginning the bedtime routine, entering the bedroom for the night or getting into bed.
- Name origin
- From Greek klinē (bed) and -phobia.
Aurophobia: fear of gold
Gold itself is the focus, rather than metals in general.
- Possible triggers
- Handling gold jewellery, seeing a gold display or being offered a gold item.
- Name origin
- Combines Latin aurum (gold) with Greek-derived -phobia (fear).
Barophobia: fear of gravity
A fear of gravity can affect everyday situations involving being pulled down, falling sensation, heavy feeling and pressure. It may lead to restricting movement, avoiding activities or positions, monitoring bodily sensations, or changing routines to prevent the feared motion or lack of motion.
- Possible triggers
- Discussing gravity, watching a demonstration of falling objects or dwelling on the idea of being pulled downwards.
- Name origin
- From Greek baros (weight) and -phobia.
Inside every hub
What each phobia guide includes
Each hub brings the main information together and links to focused pages when more detail is useful.
- 01Complete guide
A clear starting point and routes into the full topic.
- 02Symptoms
Physical sensations, thoughts, attention and avoidance.
- 03Causes
Possible pathways and what may keep the fear going.
- 04Treatment
Established and complementary approaches explained carefully.
- 05Recovery
What meaningful progress and greater freedom may involve.
- 06Questions and facts
Practical answers and useful phobia-specific context.
A useful place to begin
Search in the words that feel natural to you
Start with a phobia name, situation, sensation or concern. The directory will show the closest available guides and their meanings.

