haphephobia

[haf-uh-foh-bee-uh]

noun

1. an extreme fear or dislike of touching or being touched.

Other Word Forms

• haphephobic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of haphephobia¹

First recorded in 1890–95; from Greek haphḗ “a touch,” derivative of háptein “to grasp, sense, perceive” + -phobia

Example Sentences

I don’t think I suffer from haphephobia, or haptephobia, or thixophobia, which all mean fear of touching or being touched; I just don’t like to be hugged, embraced, pulled, grabbed or bunched up next to chatty rewards members on tight Southwest flights.

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