necrophobia

American  

[nek-ruh-foh-bee-uh] / ˌnɛk rəˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of dead bodies or of locations, objects, and people associated with the dead.

   My necrophobia takes me blocks out of my way just to avoid having to drive past cemeteries.

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necrophobia British  

/ ˌnɛkrəʊˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. an abnormal fear of death or dead bodies

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Other Word Forms

• necrophobe noun
• necrophobic adjective

Etymology

Origin of necrophobia

First recorded in 1825–35; necro- + -phobia ( def. )

Example Sentences

The Governor, who favors the stadium, recently told the people of Minnesota, who do not, that without major league sports the Twin Cities would be like Des Moines, "absolutely dead," which caused some consternation in Iowa and not much in Minnesota, where the fear of being like Des Moines, or necrophobia, is not so potent, except in Minneapolis, of course.

From Time Magazine Archive

Associated words: cadaverous, cadaveric, necrophilism, necrophilous, carrion, necrophobia, necrogenic, necrogenous, necrotomy, necropsy, coffin, bier, catafalque, vespillo, cremate, cremation, crematory, crematorium, embalm, embalming. correct, a. accurate, right, exact, precise.

From Project Gutenberg

Associated-words: eschatology, thanatology, thanatopsis, necrology, thanatophobia, necrophobia, necrolatry, requiem, necromancy, posthumous, post-mortem, ante-mortem, euthanasian, dirge, crossbones, placebo, in extremis, decedent, funeral, obit, obitual, necrologist, fatality, fatal, casualty. deathless, a. immortal, imperishable, undying. death notice. obituary, necrology. debar, v. preclude, exclude. debase, v. degrade, deteriorate, abase, vitiate, corrupt, alloy, humiliate. debasement, n. degradation, abasement, deterioration, vitiation, depravation. debatable, a. contestable, moot, disputable, mooted, controvertible.

From Project Gutenberg

Necrophobia and thanatophobia are allied maladies, one being the fear of dead bodies and the other the fear of death itself.

From Project Gutenberg