acarophobia

American  

[ak-er-uh-foh-bee-uh] / ˌæk ər əˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of bites or infestation by small parasitic insects or mites, causing crawling or itching sensations on the skin.

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Other Word Forms

• acarophobic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of acarophobia

First recorded in 1940–94; acar(us) + -o- ( def. ) + -phobia ( def. )

Explanation

Acarophobia is an extreme fear of very tiny bugs. If you suffer from acarophobia, the idea of getting head lice is completely terrifying. Most people have a dislike or even disgust for creepy crawly bugs, but when that normal feeling becomes overwhelming and exaggerated, it might be diagnosed as acarophobia. A person with this disorder has a horror of small crawling insects, or even the delusion that his skin is crawling with imaginary bugs. The word is rooted in the Greek akari, "mite or tick," and phobos, "fear or terror."

Example Sentences

The word ataxophobia is derived from the Greek word ataxo-, which means "without order."

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2021

Indeed, while Kondo's teachings have an obvious mass appeal, there is one particular demographic that is especially drawn to these types of home organization shows: Those who, like me, suffer from a condition called ataxophobia.

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2021

Specifically, ataxophobia is a type of phobia in which the sufferer becomes overwhelmed and anxious in the presence of disorder.

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2021

The reasons vary as to why one might develop ataxophobia, but the root cause almost always includes a history of trauma, where the sufferer experienced emotional distress paired with a messy environment.

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2021