entomophobia
Fear of insects
Entomophobia is an intense, irrational fear of insects.
While many people find bugs unpleasant, someone with entomophobia experiences anxiety or panic reactions disproportionate to any actual threat—even a harmless beetle or moth can trigger distress.
The term combines Greek roots for insect and fear, placing it among the many clinical phobia names like arachnophobia and claustrophobia.
Her entomophobia made summer picnics nearly impossible.
Hardy household insect pests
- beetlesHard-winged insects
- antsSocial colony insects
- spidersWeb-spinning eight-legged creatures
- mothsNocturnal lepidopterans
flies · mosquitoes · wasps · bees · centipedes · crickets · grasshoppers · mantis
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- frightSudden intense fear
alarm · scream · shudder · startle · freeze · flee · avoidance · hypervigilance
Intense physical aversion
- revulsionIntense physical disgust
- repulsionDisgust or pushing-away force
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
- distasteMild aversion or dislike
creepy-crawly · squeamishness · skin-crawling · recoil · cringe · shudder · itching · contamination
Persistent apprehensive distress
- desensitizationReduced response over time
- triggerWhat initiates action
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
One who eradicates vermin
- insecticideToxic agent targeting pests
- bug-sprayAerosol repelling pests
- repellentCauses strong aversion
- flyswatterHandheld bug killer
screens · netting · inspection · fumigation · pest-control · checking · scanning · escape
cockroaches
Hardy household insect pests
moths · flies · mosquitoes · wasps · bees · centipedes · crickets · grasshoppers · mantis · dragonflies
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
fright · alarm · scream · shudder · startle · freeze · flee · avoidance · hypervigilance · nightmare
disgust
Intense physical aversion
- revulsionIntense physical disgust
- repulsionDisgust or pushing-away force
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
distaste · creepy-crawly · squeamishness · skin-crawling · recoil · cringe · shudder · itching · contamination · unclean
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- desensitizationReduced response over time
- triggerWhat initiates action
- traumaLasting psychological wound
exterminator
One who eradicates vermin
- insecticideToxic agent targeting pests
- bug-sprayAerosol repelling pests
- repellentCauses strong aversion
flyswatter · screens · netting · inspection · fumigation · pest-control · checking · scanning · escape · isolation
phobia, entomology, entomologist, entomological, arachnophobia, hydrophobia, entomologists