hydrophobic

hy·dro·pho·bic
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UK/haɪdɹəˈfəʊbɪk/US/haɪdɹəˈfoʊbɪk/

adjective

Of, or having, hydrophobia (rabies); rabid.

Similar
water-fearingaquaphobicafraid
Opposite
hydrophilic
Less commonScrabble 27
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Meanings

hydrophobic1

adjectivehydrophobic (not comparable)
  1. not comparableOf, or having, hydrophobia (rabies); rabid.

hydrophobic2

adjectivehydrophobic (comparative more hydrophobic, superlative most hydrophobic)

comparative more hydrophobic · superlative most hydrophobic

  1. chemistryLacking an affinity for water; unable to absorb or to be wetted by water.

    Synonyms: water-fearing

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveLacking an affinity for water; unable to absorb or to be wetted by water.

Similar
water-fearing

antonym(s) of “lacking an affinity for water”

Opposite
hydrophilic

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivelacking affinity for water; tending to repel and not absorb water; tending not to dissolve in or mix with or be wetted by water

Opposite
hydrophilic

adjectiveabnormally afraid of water

Similar
aquaphobicafraid
Also see
aquaphobicwater-repellent

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

hydrophobic · adjective

From hydrophobia + -ic.

Full word history & related roots →

hydrophobic · adjective

From hydrophobe + -ic.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian хидрофо́бен, хидрофо́бен
  • хидрофо́бен (hidrofóben)of, or having, hydrophobia
  • хидрофо́бен (hidrofóben)lacking an affinity for water
Catalan hidròfob, hidròfob
  • hidròfobof, or having, hydrophobia
  • hidròfoblacking an affinity for water
Chinese Mandarin 疏水
  • 疏水 (shūshuǐ)lacking an affinity for water
Czech hydrofobní
  • hydrofobnílacking an affinity for water
Danish hydrofob, vandskyende
  • hydrofoblacking an affinity for water
  • vandskyendelacking an affinity for water
Finnish raivotautinen, vesipakoinen
  • raivotautinenof, or having, hydrophobia
  • vesipakoinenlacking an affinity for water
  • hydrofobinenlacking an affinity for water
French hydrophobe, hydrophobe
  • hydrophobeof, or having, hydrophobia
  • hydrophobelacking an affinity for water
German hydrophob
  • hydrophoblacking an affinity for water
Hungarian hidrofób, hidrofób
  • hidrofóbof, or having, hydrophobia
  • hidrofóblacking an affinity for water
Irish hidreafóbach
  • hidreafóbachof, or having, hydrophobia
Italian idrofobo, idrofobo
  • idrofoboof, or having, hydrophobia
  • idrofobolacking an affinity for water
Polish hydrofobiczny, hydrofobowy
  • hydrofobicznyof, or having, hydrophobia
  • hydrofobowylacking an affinity for water
Russian гидрофо́бный, гидрофобный
  • гидрофо́бный (gidrofóbnyj)of, or having, hydrophobia
  • гидрофобный (gidrofobnyj)lacking an affinity for water
Spanish hidrófobo, hidrófobo
  • hidrófoboof, or having, hydrophobia
  • hidrófobolacking an affinity for water
Tagalog tubigsikwayin
  • tubigsikwayinlacking an affinity for water
Cite this entry
APA

hydrophobic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydrophobic

MLA

“hydrophobic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydrophobic. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hydrophobic,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydrophobic.

Source: hydrophobic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.