neophobe
Fears the unfamiliar
A neophobe fears or dislikes new things—new foods, new technologies, new ideas.
The term appears most often in discussions of eating habits, where food neophobia describes reluctance to try unfamiliar dishes: My daughter is such a neophobe that she won't eat anything but chicken nuggets.
The opposite is a neophile, someone drawn to novelty.
Unable to bend
- rigidUnable to bend
- unadaptableCannot modify to fit
- obstinateFirmly refusing to yield
- stubbornRefusing to change course
unyielding · intransigent · hidebound · immovable · fixed · uncompromising · resistant · close-minded
Persistent apprehensive distress
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
panic · unease · nervousness · alarm · discomfort · worry · aversion · avoidance
Sense of unease about motives
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- warinessCautious distrust
- misgivingUneasy feeling of doubt
cynicism · incredulity · questioning · leery · guarded · defensive · protective · xenophobia
Habitual group practice
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
time-honored · established · familiar · routine · habitual · ancestral · old-fashioned · nostalgic
inflexible
Unable to bend
- rigidUnable to bend
- unadaptableCannot modify to fit
- obstinateFirmly refusing to yield
stubborn · unyielding · intransigent · hidebound · immovable · fixed · uncompromising · resistant · close-minded · narrow-minded
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
trepidation · panic · unease · nervousness · alarm · discomfort · worry · aversion · avoidance · hesitation
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- warinessCautious distrust
misgiving · cynicism · incredulity · questioning · leery · guarded · defensive · protective · xenophobia · technophobia
custom
Habitual group practice
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
preservation · time-honored · established · familiar · routine · habitual · ancestral · old-fashioned · nostalgic · conservative
neophobeneophile
One who craves novelty
early adopter · adventurer · explorer · thrill-seeker · innovator
neophobeadventurer
One pursuing exciting exploits
explorer · risk-taker · free spirit · bon vivant · cosmopolitan