arachnophobia

[uh-rak-nuh-foh-bee-uh]

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of spiders.

arachnophobia

/ əˌræknəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. an abnormal fear of spiders

Other Word Forms

• arachnophobic adjective
• arachnophobe noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of arachnophobia¹

First recorded in 1925–30; from Greek aráchn(ē) “spider” + -o- ( def. ) + -phobia

Word History and Origins

Origin of arachnophobia¹

C20: from Greek arakhnē spider + _-phobia

Example Sentences

If you suffer from arachnophobia, this is the time of year when you’re most likely to run into one of your worst nightmares: a tarantula.

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One example is a new setting that allows players with severe arachnophobia to remove the eight-legged creatures - which feature heavily in the world - from the game.

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In less time than it takes to say “arachnophobia,” it will escape, reproduce like a bandit and send its deadly progeny scampering into every unsealed nook and cranny.

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How is spider misinformation related to the prevalence of arachnophobia?

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Having a fear of spiders is something many people can relate to, but is there a way to combat arachnophobia?

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