neophobe

N1E1O1P3H4O1B3E1

noun

One who dislikes new or novel things.

Opposite
neophile
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounneophobe (plural neophobes)

plural neophobes

  1. One who dislikes new or novel things.

    While mankind is generally ambivalent about a new technology until it directly affects pockets or perceptions, the pundits are out in force with this one, and already we are seeing tensions between neophiles and neophobes.

    1995, Intermedia, volume 23, page 4

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
neophile
Also see
misoneist

Origin

From neo- + -phobe.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese neofóbico, neofóbica
  • neofóbicoone who dislikes new or novel things
  • neofóbicaone who dislikes new or novel things
Cite this entry
APA

neophobe. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neophobe

MLA

“neophobe.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neophobe. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “neophobe,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neophobe.

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