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The Ultimate List of 350 Surprising and Common Phobias from A-Z

By Morgan McMurrin,

12 hours ago

Everyone is afraid of something—it’s what makes us human. From being scared of certain animals and objects to specific situations, the list of fears that people can have is endless. Though fears shouldn’t be viewed as a weakness, they are actually a natural reaction that helps protect people from danger and potential threats. However, when someone constantly has intense feelings of anxiety and terror about something that isn’t necessary, it’s no longer just a fear—it crosses over into being a phobia. And there is quite the list of common phobias from A-Z that people can relate to.

If you’re someone who has a phobia that you feel has taken over your life, you’re not alone. A lot of people have them. In fact, it’s estimated that over 19 million Americans , from children to adults, have at least one phobia that they struggle with. Even the bravest characters in movies are affected by them. Take Elsa from Frozen , for instance; her cryophobia fuels a deep anxiety about her ice powers, leading her to withdraw and isolate herself from her town and family because she’s worried if she doesn’t, she’ll cause harm to those she loves. This illustrates how an intense fear can deeply affect a person’s daily choices and behaviors as try to navigate life with a phobia. The struggle to manage what terrifies them often shapes their actions and decisions in significant ways.

To learn all about phobias, keep reading. We cover everything from the different types there are to what causes them in the first place. We even let you in on if they are curable or not. Plus, we rounded up over 300 of the most common and unique phobias, 350 to be exact. To see what they are, check out the complete list, below. You may even be surprised to find out what some of them are, which goes to show that pretty much anything can be considered terrifying to someone.

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What Is a Phobia?

The difference between being afraid of something and having a phobia lies in the intensity and impact of that fear. Fear is a normal response to a perceived threat and is often rational, but a phobia is an anxiety disorder. It involves a person having an irrational and overwhelming fear that is uncontrollable. The fear surrounding a phobia can become so intense that individuals go to great lengths to avoid encountering the source of their anxiety, which often leads to them altering their daily lives to escape it. This aversion can significantly impact their overall well-being, demonstrating just how powerful and consuming phobias can be.

For example, if the sight of a snake in a movie scene triggers someone to have a full-blown panic attack, or if someone goes to great lengths to avoid a snake-themed ride at an amusement park, or refuses to go hiking because they are nervous that they might run into a snake, it indicates that their anxiety has reached a level that significantly disrupts their daily life and is a clear sign of phobic behavior. This extreme response highlights how phobias can transform ordinary situations into sources of distress.

Different Types of Phobias

Phobias can generally be categorized into three main groups: specific phobias, social phobias and agoraphobia phobias.

Specific phobias are intense fears tied to particular objects or situations, ranging from common triggers, like spiders or heights, to less popular ones. Social phobias, on the other hand, involve a profound fear of social interactions or situations where one might be judged or scrutinized, leading to anxiety about public speaking, meeting new people, or even eating in front of others. Lastly, agoraphobia, which encompasses the fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, often manifests as a fear of leaving home or being in crowded places.

Each of these groups presents its own challenges and intricacies, highlighting the different ways fear can affect our lives.

Related: 8 Reasons You Could Be Afraid of Commitment, According to Psychologists

Common Phobia vs. Rare Phobia: What's the Difference?

If you think about a phobia you have, most of the time it will be something that is considered to be a common phobia, which means it’s something that a lot of people have a fear of, like a fear of heights.

However, if you have a phobia that isn’t super recognized in society, it is considered to be a rare phobia. Those phobias can include unusual fears, like those associated with specific objects. The key difference of the two lies in their commonness and societal recognition, with common phobias often being the focus of popular discourse, while rare phobias can leave individuals feeling isolated in their fears.

List of Common Phobias A-Z

A

1. Ablutophobia: fear of bathing

2. Acarophobia: fear of itching or of the insects that cause itching

3. Acerophobia: fear of sourness

4. Aeronausiphobia: fear of vomiting secondary to airsickness

5. Aerophobia: fear of aircraft or flying

6. Aerophobia: fear of drafts, air swallowing, or airborne noxious substances

7. Agateophobia: fear of insanity

8. Agliophobia: fear of pain

9. Agraphobia: fear of sexual abuse

10. Agrizoophobia: fear of wild animals

11. Aichmophobia: fear of sharp or pointed objects

12. Albuminurophobia: fear of kidney disease

13. Alektorophobia: fear of chickens

14. Alliumphobia: fear of the strong-scented Allium genus: garlic, onions, chives, shallots

15. Amathophobia: fear of dust

16. Amaxophobia: fear of riding in a car

17. Ambulophobia: fear of walking

18. Amnesiphobia: fear of amnesia

19. Amychophobia: fear of scratches

20. Anablephobia: fear of looking up

21. Anatidaephobia: fear of ducks

22. Ancraophobia: fear of wind

23. Anthophobia: fear of flowers

24. Anthropophobia: fear of human beings

25. Antlophobia: fear of floods

26. Anuptaphobia: fear of staying single

27. Apotemnophobia: fear of amputees

28. Arachibutyrophobia: fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth

29. Arachnophobia: fear of spiders and other arachnids such as scorpions

30. Arithmophobia: fear of numbers

31. Asthenophobia: fear of fainting

32. Astrophobia: fear of stars

33. Asymmetriphobia: fear of asymmetrical things

34. Ataxophobia: fear of disorder or untidiness

35. Atelophobia: fear of imperfection

36. Athazagoraphobia: fear of being forgotten

37. Atomosophobia: fear of atomic explosions

38. Autophobia: fear of isolation

39. Aulophobia: fear of flutes

40. Aurophobia: fear of gold

41. Auroraphobia: fear of Northern lights

42. Automatonophobia: fear of ventriloquist’s dummies

Related: How To Stop Worrying That Someone Is Mad at You, According to a Psychologist

B

43. Bacillophobia: fear of microbes

44. Bacteriophobia: fear of bacteria

45. Ballistophobia: fear of missiles or bullets

46. Barophobia: fear of gravity

47. Bathmophobia: fear of stairs

48. Batophobia: fear of being close to high buildings

49. Belonephobia: fear of needles

50. Bibliophobia: fear of books

51. Bogyphobia: fear of the Bogeyman

52. Botanophobia: fear of plants

53. Brontophobia: fear of thunder and lightning

54. Bufonophobia: fear of toads

C

55. Cacophobia: fear of ugliness

56. Cainotophobia: fear of newness

57. Caligynephobia: fear of beautiful women

58. Carcinophobia: fear of cancer

59. Cardiophobia: fear of the heart

60. Carnophobia: fear of meat

61. Catagelophobia: fear of being ridiculed

62. Catapedaphobia: fear of jumping from high and low places

63. Chemophobia: fear of chemicals

64. Cherophobia: fear of happiness

65. Chionophobia: fear of snow

66. Chirophobia: fear of hands

67. Chiclephobia: fear of chewing gum

68. Chiroptophobia: fear of bats

69. Cholerophobia: fear of anger

70. Chorophobia: fear of dancing

71. Christianophobia: fear of Christians

72. Chrematophobia: fear of money

73. Chromophobia: fear of colors

74. Chronomentrophobia: fear of clocks

75. Chronophobia: fear of time and time moving forward

76. Cibophobia: fear of food

77. Claustrophobia: fear of having no escape and being closed in

78. Cleisiophobia: fear of being locked in an enclosed place

79. Climacophobia: fear of climbing

80. Clinophobia: fear of going to bed

81. Cnidophobia: fear of stings

82. Coimetrophobia: fear of cemeteries

83. Coitophobia: fear of coitus

84. Cometophobia: fear of comets

85. Consecotaleophobia: fear of chopsticks

86. Coprastasophobia: fear of constipation

87. Coprophobia: fear of feces

88. Coronaphobia: fear of COVID-19

89. Coulrophobia: fear of clowns

90. Cryophobia: fear of ice

91. Crystallophobia: fear of crystals

92. Cyberphobia: fear of computers

93. Cyclophobia: fear of bicycles

94. Cymophobia: fear of wave-like motions

95. Cynophobia: fear of dogs

Related: 50 Bible Verses to Calm Your Worry and Ease Your Anxiety

D

96. Decidophobia: fear of making decisions

97. Defecaloesiophobia: fear of painful bowel movements

98. Demonophobia: fear of demons

99. Dendrophobia: fear of trees

100. Deipnophobia: fear of dining with others

101. Dermatophobia: fear of skin disease

102. Diabetophobia: fear of diabetes

103. Diagraphephobia: fear of losing your computer data

104. Didaskaleinophobia: fear of going to school

105. Dinophobia: fear of whirlpools

106. Dipsophobia: fear of drinking

107. Dishabiliophobia: fear of undressing in front of someone

108. Disposophobia: fear of throwing stuff out

109. Domatophobia: fear of houses

110. Doraphobia: fear of fur or skins of animals

111. Doxophobia: fear of expressing opinions or of receiving praise

112. Dromophobia: fear of crossing streets

113. Dystychiphobia: fear of accidents

E

114. Eisoptrophobia: fear of mirrors or seeing one’s reflection in a mirror

115. Electrophobia: fear of electricity

116.Eleutherophobia: fear of freedom

117. Emetophobia: fear of throwing up

118. Enetophobia: fear of pins

119. Eosophobia: fear of dawn

120. Ephebiphobia: fear of youth

121. Epistaxiophobia: fear of nosebleeds

122. Epistemophobia: fear of knowledge

123. Eremophobia: fear of being oneself

124. Ereuthrophobia: fear of blushing

125. Ergophobia: fear of work

126. Erythrophobia: fear of the color red

F

127. Fibriophobia: fear of getting a fever

128. Euphobia: fear of hearing good news

129. Francophobia: fear of France

130. Felinophobia: fear of cats

131. Frigophobia: fear of cold things

G

132. Galeophobia: fear of sharks

133. Gamophobia: fear of marriage

134. Gelotophobia: fear of being laughed at

135.Geniophobia: fear of chins

136. Genuphobia: fear of knees

137. Gephyrophobia: fear of bridges

138. Germanophobia: fear of Germans

139. Gerontophobia: fear of aging or the elderly

140. Geumophobia: fear of taste

141. Globophobia: fear of balloons

142. Glossophobia: fear of speaking in public or of trying to speak

143. Gymnophobia: fear of nudity

144. Gynophobia: fear of adult women

H

145. Halitophobia: fear of bad breath

146. Hamartophobia: fear of sinning

147. Haphephobia: fear of being touched

148. Harpaxophobia: fear of being robbed

149. Heliophobia: fear of sunlight

150. Helminthophobia: fear of worms

151. Hemophobia: fear of blood

152. Heptadekaphobia: fear of the number 17

153. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia: fear of the number 666

154. Hibernophobia: fear of Irish people

155. Hinduphobia: fear of Hindus

156. Hippophobia: fear of horses

157. Hippopotomonsrosesquippedaliophobia: fear of long words

158. Hierophobia: fear of priests

159. Hispanophobia: fear of Hispanic people, Hispanic culture, and the Spanish language

160. Hobophobia: fear of bums or beggars

161. Hodophobia: fear of travel

162. Homichlophobia: fear of fog

163. Homilophobia: fear of sermons

164. Hominophobia: fear of men

165. Homophobia: fear of homosexuality, homosexuals, or gays

166. Hoplophobia: fear of firearms

167. Hydrophobia: fear of water

168. Hygrophobia: fear of liquids, dampness, or moisture

169. Hylophobia: fear of forests

170. Hypnophobia: fear of sleep

171. Hypochondria: fear of illness

I

172. Iatrophobia: fear of going to the doctor or of doctors

173. Ichthyophobia: fear of fish

174. Ideophobia: fear of ideas

175. Insectophobia: fear of insects

176. Iranophobia: fear of Iran or Iranian culture

177. Islamophobia: fear of Muslims

178. Isolophobia: fear of solitude, being alone

179. Isopterophobia: fear of termites

J

180. Japanophobia: fear of Japanese

181. Judeophobia: fear of Jews

K

182. Kakorrhaphiophobia: fear of failure

183. Katsaridaphobia: fear of cockroaches

184. Kinesophobia: fear of movement

185. Kopophobia: fear of fatigue

186. Koryophobia: fear of the Koreans

187. Koumpounophobia: fear of buttons on clothing

188. Kymophobia: fear of waves

189. Kyphophobia: fear of stooping

L

190. Lachanophobia: fear of vegetables

191. Latinophobia: fear of Latin people

192. Lepidopterophobia: fear of butterflies

193. Leprophobia or Lepraphobia: fear of leprosy

194. Leukophobia: fear of the color white

195. Ligyrophobia: fear of loud noises

196. Lilapsophobia: fear of tornadoes or hurricanes

197. Limnophobia: fear of lakes

197. Linonophobia: fear of string

198. Lipophobia: fear of fats in food

199. Liticaphobia: fear of lawsuits

200. Logophobia: fear of words

201. Lusophobia: fear of the Portuguese, Portuguese culture, and the Portuguese language

202. Lyssophobia: fear of rabies

M

203. Macrophobia: fear of long waits

204. Mageiricophobia: fear of cooking

205. Maieusiophobia: fear of childbirth

206. Masklophobia: fear of people in masks, costumes, and mascots

207. Mechanophobia: fear of machines

208. Megalophobia: fear of large objects

209. Melanophobia: fear of the color black

210. Melissophobia: fear of bees

211. Melophobia: fear of music

212. Meningitophobia: fear of brain disease

213. Menophobia: fear of menstruation

214. Merinthophobia: fear of being bound or tied up

215. Metallophobia: fear of metal

216. Meteorophobia: fear of meteors

217. Mysophobia: fear of being contaminated with dirt

218. Musophobia: fear of mice or rats

219. Mycophobia: fear of mushrooms

220. Mycrophobia: fear of small things

221. Myrmecophobia: fear of ants

222. Myxophobia: fear of slime

N

223. Neophobia: fear of anything new

224. Nephophobia: fear of clouds

225. Noctiphobia: fear of the night

226. Nosocomephobia: fear of hospitals

227. Nosophobia: fear of contracting a disease

228. Nostophobia: fear of returning home

229. Nucleomituphobia: fear of nuclear weapons

O

230. Obesophobia: fear of gaining weight

231. Ochlophobia: fear of crowds

232. Ochophobia: fear of vehicles

233. Odontophobia: fear of dentists

234. Oikophobia: fear of home surroundings and household appliances

235. Ombrophobia: fear of rain or of being rained on

236. Omphalophobia: fear of belly buttons

237. Ophidiophobia: fear of snakes

238. Ophthalmophobia: fear of being stared at

239. Opiophobia: fear medical doctors experience of prescribing needed pain medications for patients

240. Ornithophobia: fear of birds

241. Ostraconophobia: fear of shellfish

P

242. Papaphobia: fear of the Pope

243. Papyrophobia: fear of paper

244. Panphobia: fear of everything or the constant fear of an unknown

245. Parasitophobia: fear of parasites

246. Phagophobia: fear of swallowing

247. Phalacrophobia: fear of becoming bald

248. Paraskavedekatriaphobia: fear of Friday the 13th

249. Pediophobia: fear of dolls

250. Pedophobia: fear of babies

251. Peladophobia: fear of bald people

252. Peniaphobia: fear of poverty

253. Philematophobia: fear of kissing

254. Philophobia: fear of love

255. Phthiriophobia: fear of lice

256. Phyllophobia: fear of leaves

257. Placophobia: fear of tombstones

258. Pocrescophobia: fear of gaining weight

259. Podophobia: fear of feet

260. Pogonophobia: fear of beards

261. Polonophobia: fear of the Polish

262. Polyphobia: fear of many things

263. Porphyrophobia: fear of the color purple

264 .Potamophobia: fear of rivers or running water

265. Pteridophobia: fear of ferns

266. Pteronophobia: fear of being tickled by feathers

267. Pupaphobia: fear of puppets

268. Pyrophobia: fear of fire

Q

269. Quadraphobia: fear of the number four

270. Quadriplegiphobia: fear of becoming a quadriplegic

271. Quintaphobia: fear of the number five

R

272. Radiophobia: fear of radioactivity or X-rays

273. Ranidaphobia: fear of frogs

274. Rhytiphobia: fear of getting wrinkles

275. Russophobia: fear of Russians

S

276. Samhainophobia: fear of Halloween

277. Scelerophibia: fear of bad men, burglars

278. Sciophobia: fear of shadows

279. Scolionophobia: fear of school

280. Scotomaphobia: fear of blindness

281. Scotophobia: fear of darkness

282. Scriptophobia: fear of writing in public

283. Selachophobia: fear of sharks

284. Selaphobia: fear of light flashes

285. Selenophobia: fear of the moon

286. Siderodromophobia: fear of trains or railroads

287. Sinophobia: fear of Chinese people

288. Soceraphobia: fear of parents-in-law

289. Sophophobia: fear of learning

290. Soteriophobia: fear of dependence on others

291. Spacephobia: fear of outer space

292. Spectrophobia: fear of specters or ghosts

293. Spheksophobia: fear of wasps

294. Stasiphobia: fear of standing

295. Staurophobia: fear of crosses

296. Stenophobia: fear of narrow things

297. Submechanophobia: fear of partially or fully submerged man-made objects

298. Suriphobia: fear of mice

299. Symbolophobia: fear of symbolism

300. Symmetrophobia: fear of symmetry

301. Syngenesophobia: fear of relatives

T

302. Tachophobia: fear of speed

303. Taeniophobia: fear of tapeworms

304. Taphophobia: fear of being buried alive

305. Taphophobia: fear of graves or fear of being placed in a grave while still alive

306. Tapinophobia: fear of being contagious

307. Taurophobia: fear of bulls

308. Technophobia: fear of advanced technology

309. Telephobia: fear of making or taking telephone calls

310. Teratophobia: fear of giving birth to a monster

311. Testophobia: fear of taking tests

312. Tetanophobia: fear of lockjaw, tetanus

313.Textophobia: fear of certain fabrics

314. Thaasophobia: fear of sitting

315. Thalassophobia: fear of being in the ocean

316. Thanatophobia: fear of dying

317. Theatrophobia: fear of theaters

318. Thermophobia: fear of intolerance to high temperatures

319. Tokophobia: fear of pregnancy

320. Tomophobia: fear of invasive medical procedure

321. Tonitrophobia: fear of thunder

322. Topophobia: fear of certain places or situations, such as stage fright

323. Toxiphobia: fear of being poisoned

324. Traumatophobia: fear of having an injury

325. Trichinophobia: fear of trichinosis

326. Trichophobia: fear of hair loss

327. Tropophobia: fear of moving or making changes

328. Trypanophobia: fear of injections

329. Trypophobia: fear of holes or textures with a pattern of holes

U

330. Urophobia: fear of urine or urinating

V

331. Vaccinophobia: fear of vaccination

332. Vehophobia: fear of driving

333. Verbophobia: fear of words

334. Verminophobia: fear of germs

335. Vestiphobia: fear of clothing

336. Virginitiphobia: fear of rape

337. Vitricophobia: fear of stepfather

W

338. Wiccaphobia: fear of witches and witchcraft

X

339. Xanthophobia: fear of the color yellow

340. Xenoglossophobia: fear of foreign languages

341. Xenophobia: fear of foreigners

342. Xerophobia: fear of dryness

343. Xylophobia: fear of wooden objects

344. Xyrophobia: fear of razors

Y

345. Ymophobia: fear of being contrary in general

Z

346. Zelophobia: fear of jealousy

347. Zemmiphobia: fear of the great mole rat

348. Zeusophobia: fear of God or gods

349. Zoophobia: fear of animals

350. Zuigerphobia: fear of vacuum cleaners

What Causes Phobias?

Some people develop phobias during childhood, others during adolescence and some don’t until their early adulthood. Research suggests that phobias can occur from a variety of things. They can be caused by a person’s genetics; they can be a result of environmental factors and they can also come about from traumatic encounters.

Can Phobias Be Cured?

If you suffer from certain phobias, the good news is, most phobias can be treated successfully, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

One of the most popular approaches involves exposure therapy, which gradually exposes a person to the thing they fear in a safe environment. Another option is cognitive behavior therapy, which helps find coping strategies for link connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

Mindful therapy is also an option. It is a CBT-based technique that focuses on improving emotional regulation by reducing stress and anxiety. Virtual Reality technology has also become a helpful way to treat people with phobias. It enables those to face their specific fears, like flying in airplanes, that are harder or more costly to integrate into sessions.

There are also different types of medication that can help a person. Though, because everyone is different, one form of treatment might work better for one person than another.