arachnophobia
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of arachnophobia
First recorded in 1925–30; from Greek aráchn(ē) “spider” + -o- ( def. ) + -phobia
Explanation
If you suffer from arachnophobia, you have a paralyzing fear of spiders. Your arachnophobia might make you too terrified to venture into basements, attics, and barns — or to read "Charlotte's Web." The vast majority of people are at least a little leery of eight-legged creatures, but someone with a true case of arachnophobia will often suffer a panic attack if he sees — or even think about seeing — a spider. The word arachnophobia comes from two roots, arachnid, "spider," from the Greek arakhne, "spider or spider's web," and phobia, "fear," from the Greek phobos.
Vocabulary lists containing arachnophobia
Phobia Fever
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Never Fear: Phobia, Phobic
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UCPS 6th Grade Roots List #12
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Between 3% to 6% of the world’s human population suffers from arachnophobia, but in reality spiders don’t pose much of a threat to us.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
It goes without saying, but this series is not for anyone afflicted with arachnophobia.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2025
How is spider misinformation related to the prevalence of arachnophobia?
From New York Times • Aug. 25, 2022
Having a fear of spiders is something many people can relate to, but is there a way to combat arachnophobia?
From BBC • Jul. 7, 2022
In the film, Dr. Ross Jennings suffers from arachnophobia but ultimately saves his town from a deadly spider infestation.
From Salon • Jan. 20, 2022
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
