onomatophobia

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noun

The fear of hearing particular names or words.

OriginAncient Greek φόβος (phóbos) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰógʷos ← Proto-Indo-European *bʰógʷos →
Scrabble 22
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Meanings

nounonomatophobia (uncountable)
  1. rareuncountableThe fear of hearing particular names or words.

    The focal point of onomatophobia is auditory cues or linguistic elements – which can trigger an overwhelming fear response.

    2024 December 11, Ayesha Ingham Folami, “What Is Onomatophobia?”, in Klarity

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁nómn̥
  2. Proto-Hellenic*ónomə
  3. Ancient Greekὀνόμᾰτος (onómătos)
  4. Englishonomato-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*bʰógʷos
  6. Proto-Hellenic*pʰógʷos
  7. Ancient Greekφόβος (phóbos)
  8. Englishonomatophobia

From onomato- + -phobia.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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