germ phobia
Dreading invisible microbes
An intense fear of germs, bacteria, or contamination.
Someone with germ phobia may compulsively wash hands, avoid public surfaces, or refuse to shake hands.
The term is informal—clinical contexts prefer mysophobia or germophobia.
Her germ phobia makes eating at restaurants almost impossible.
- germaphobePerson fearing contamination
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- don't touchProhibition against contact
- sanitizerAgent that reduces microbes
- hand sanitizerWaterless palm cleanser
handwashing · bleach · bacteria · dirty · sterile · obsessive · anxiety · disgust · wash your hands · avoidance · clean · disinfectant · contagion · touching · doorknobs · public restrooms · antibacterial · scrubbing
- overparentinghelicopter parenting, helicopter parent, overprotective, overprotection, overprotecting
germ, phobia, germs, germinal, germinate, germination, germinating, germinated, germicide