acarophobia
n.n. a very strong fear of spiders and other small insects with eight legs. It is a type of anxiety that makes you feel very uncomfortable when you see these creatures.
n. an intense, irrational fear of arachnids, particularly spiders. Often classified as a specific phobia within the broader category of zoophobia.
He suffers from acarophobia and cannot even look at a spider.
The therapist used gradual exposure therapy to help her manage her acarophobia during the summer months.
While many people feel a mild discomfort around spiders, those with acarophobia experience a full-blown panic attack that significantly disrupts their daily routines and social interactions.
From acaro- + -phobia.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 26, 2026