Meanings
- uncountableThe fear of rubbish or dirt.
In fact it is known that in rupophobia there is always an obsessional component.
1983, Neuropsychobiology, page 752 more examples
Patients with rupophobia, the fear of dirt, are at times encountered by the dermatologist. Some of these patients present a traumatic dermatitis, or a self inflicted lesion of the skin.
1925, Transactions of the Section on Dermatology and Syphilology of the American Medical Association at the Annual Session, page 189Today we see the triumph of hyper-hygiene, a sort of rupophobia. In a consumerist and fetishist way, this prescribes appearance, aesthetics, and narcissism.
2022, Cosimo Schinaia, Psychoanalysis and Ecology, page 65Synonyms: mysophobia, ablutomania
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe fear of rubbish or dirt.
Origin
- Latinrupes“cliff, rock”
- Ancient Greekῥύπος“filth”
- Englishrupophobia
Possibly from Ancient Greek ῥύπος (rhúpos, “filth”) + -phobia (See rhypophobia). Alternatively, related to Latin rupes (“cliff, rock”).
More words from Ancient Greek, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with rupophobia
Cite this entry
rupophobia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rupophobia
“rupophobia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rupophobia. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rupophobia,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rupophobia.
Source: rupophobia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.