What does phobic mean?
Phobic means having an intense fear of or strong aversion to a particular person, object, place, activity, or subject. It is commonly used with a specified object, as in “phobic about public speaking,” and can convey that the reaction is excessive, irrational, or difficult to control. The adjective may also function as a combining form in words such as xenophobic and hydrophobic, although those forms often carry a broader social or technical meaning. In informal use, “phobic” can occasionally be a noun for a person who has a strong aversion, but this is much less common than the adjectival use. Because phobic often suggests an outsized response rather than ordinary caution or dislike, it is best reserved for circumstances where the intensity of the reaction is genuinely relevant. Its Greek-derived vocabulary links it to the long-established English noun “phobia” and to a broad family of terms describing specific fears.
Having a strong or excessive fear of or aversion to something specified.
"The company was phobic about taking financial risks."
Often used before another word or in the construction “phobic about.” It can suggest that the fear or dislike is disproportionate.
Informally, a person who has an intense fear of or aversion to something.
"He had always been a phobic when it came to large dogs."
This noun sense is uncommon and informal.
Uncommon and informal; the adjective is normally used instead.
"The survey grouped the phobics by the objects they feared most."
From the Greek phobos, meaning “fear,” phobic captures dislikes so intense that they resemble irrational dread.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does phobic come from?
The word is formed from the combining form “-phobia,” associated with Greek phobos, meaning “fear,” together with the adjectival suffix “-ic.” It entered English in the early 19th century in senses such as “having a morbid dread of” and “predisposed to fear.” Its many relatives, including agoraphobia, hydrophobia, and xenophobia, continue this Greek root in both medical and social contexts.
How phobic is actually used
The adjective is relatively informal and often implies an exaggerated or disproportionate reaction. It is frequently used before another word or in the construction “phobic about” something; the noun sense is uncommon and informal.
Easily confused with phobic
Phobic is normally an adjective describing an intense fear or aversion, whereas phobia is a noun naming the fear or aversion itself.