Jocular and fictional phobias
AibohphobiaAibohphobia –– a joke term for the fear of palindromes, which is a palindrome itself. a joke term for the fear of palindromes, which is a palindrome itself. The term is a piece of computer humor entered into the 1981 The Devil's DP The term is a piece of computer humor entered into the 1981 The Devil's DP Dictionary
Dictionary
AnachrophobiaAnachrophobia –– fear of temporal displacement, from a Doctor Who novel by fear of temporal displacement, from a Doctor Who novel by Jonathan Morris.
Jonathan Morris.
AnatidaephobiaAnatidaephobia –– the fictional fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching the fictional fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you. From Gary Larson's The Far Side.
you. From Gary Larson's The Far Side.
AnoraknophobiaAnoraknophobia –– a portmanteau of "anorak" and "arachnophobia". Used in the a portmanteau of "anorak" and "arachnophobia". Used in the Wallace and Gromit comic book Anoraknophobia. Also the title of an album by Wallace and Gromit comic book Anoraknophobia. Also the title of an album by Marillion.
Marillion.
ArachibutyrophobiaArachibutyrophobia –– fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. The fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. The word is used by Charles M. Schulz in a 1982 installment of his "Peanuts" comic strip word is used by Charles M. Schulz in a 1982 installment of his "Peanuts" comic strip and by Peter O'Donnell in his 1985 Modesty Blaise adventure novel Dead Man's and by Peter O'Donnell in his 1985 Modesty Blaise adventure novel Dead Man's Handle.
Handle.
HippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobiaHippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia –– fear of long words. Hippopoto fear of long words. Hippopoto –– "big" "big" due to its allusion to the Greek-derived word hippopotamus (though this is derived as due to its allusion to the Greek-derived word hippopotamus (though this is derived as hippo- "horse" compounded with potam-os "river", so originally meaning
hippo- "horse" compounded with potam-os "river", so originally meaning "river horse";"river horse"; according to the Oxford English, "hippopotamine" has been construed as large since according to the Oxford English, "hippopotamine" has been construed as large since 1847, so this coinage is reasonable); -monstr- is from Latin words meaning 1847, so this coinage is reasonable); -monstr- is from Latin words meaning "monstrous", -o- is a noun-compounding vowel; -sesquipedali- comes from "monstrous", -o- is a noun-compounding vowel; -sesquipedali- comes from "sesquipedalian" meaning a long word (literally "a foot and a half long" in Latin), -o- "sesquipedalian" meaning a long word (literally "a foot and a half long" in Latin), -o- isis a noun-compounding vowel, and -phobia means "fear". Note: This was mentioned on a noun-compounding vowel, and -phobia means "fear". Note: This was mentioned on the first episode of Brainiac Series Five as one of
the first episode of Brainiac Series Five as one of Tickle's Teasers.Tickle's Teasers.
KeanuphobiaKeanuphobia –– fear of Keanu Reeves, portrayed in the Dean Koontz book, False fear of Keanu Reeves, portrayed in the Dean Koontz book, False Memory, where a woman has an irrational fear of Keanu Reeves and has to see her Memory, where a woman has an irrational fear of Keanu Reeves and has to see her psychiatrist, Mark Ahriman, each week, unaware that she only has the fear in the first psychiatrist, Mark Ahriman, each week, unaware that she only has the fear in the first place because the psychotic Ahriman implanted it via hypnotic suggestion to amuse place because the psychotic Ahriman implanted it via hypnotic suggestion to amuse himself. He calls her the "Keanuphobe" in his head.
himself. He calls her the "Keanuphobe" in his head.
LuposlipaphobiaLuposlipaphobia –– fear of being pursued by timber wolves around a kitchen table fear of being pursued by timber wolves around a kitchen table while wearing socks on a newly waxed floor, also from Gary Larson's The
while wearing socks on a newly waxed floor, also from Gary Larson's The Far Side.Far Side.
MonkeyphobiaMonkeyphobia –– fear of monkeys, as named by Lord Monkey Fist in the animated fear of monkeys, as named by Lord Monkey Fist in the animated series Kim Possible. Due to spending a summer in a cabin with a crazy chimp mascot, series Kim Possible. Due to spending a summer in a cabin with a crazy chimp mascot, Ron Stoppable has a fear of monkeys, which he
Ron Stoppable has a fear of monkeys, which he gets over several times, usually duringgets over several times, usually during battles with Monkey Fist, who is
battles with Monkey Fist, who is essentially Ron's arch-nemesis.essentially Ron's arch-nemesis.
NihilophobiaNihilophobia –– fear of nothingness (comes from the combination of the Latin word fear of nothingness (comes from the combination of the Latin word nihil which means nothing, none, and the suffix -phobia), as described by the Doctor nihil which means nothing, none, and the suffix -phobia), as described by the Doctor in the Star Trek: Voyager episode Night. Voyager's morale officer and chef Neelix in the Star Trek: Voyager episode Night. Voyager's morale officer and chef Neelix suffers from this condition, having panic attacks while the ship was traversing a dark suffers from this condition, having panic attacks while the ship was traversing a dark expanse of space known as the Void. It is also the title of a 2008 album by expanse of space known as the Void. It is also the title of a 2008 album by Neuronium. Also, the animated version of George of the Jungle (2007 TV series) is Neuronium. Also, the animated version of George of the Jungle (2007 TV series) is seen suffering in one episode of the cartoon, where they are tell
seen suffering in one episode of the cartoon, where they are telling scary stories.ing scary stories.
RobophobiaRobophobia –– Irrational fear of robots and/or androids, also known as "Grimwade's Irrational fear of robots and/or androids, also known as "Grimwade's Syndrome". First heard in the Doctor Who story The Robots of Death.
Syndrome". First heard in the Doctor Who story The Robots of Death.
SemaphobiaSemaphobia –– fear of average Web developers to use Semantic Web technologies. fear of average Web developers to use Semantic Web technologies.
VenustraphobiaVenustraphobia –– fear of beautiful women, according to a 1998 humorous article fear of beautiful women, according to a 1998 humorous article published by BBC News.[1] The word is a portmanteau of "Venus trap" and "phobia". published by BBC News.[1] The word is a portmanteau of "Venus trap" and "phobia". Venustraphobia is the title of a
After reading this, you
After reading this, you’d probably wish that you’ll ’d probably wish that you’ll never be part of the never be part of the small percentage of people carrying this deadly and mysterious small percentage of people carrying this deadly and mysterious disease in their genes. disease in their genes.