mysophobia
mysophobia — noun
1. an extreme fear of germs and of becoming ill because of touching things that may
an extreme fear of germs and of becoming ill because of touching things that may carry them.
Lucía stopped touching elevator buttons because her mysophobia made every surface seem dangerous.
pattern: mysophobia made [surface] seem dangerous
After the flu outbreak, Rohan's mysophobia kept him washing his hands every ten minutes.
collocation: washing hands because of mysophobia
The school nurse said Felix's mysophobia began after seeing his father in an isolation room.
Mysophobia made Eli throw away the sandwich after another child touched the wrapper.
When the train was crowded, Trang's mysophobia made her cover the pole with a scarf.
- germophobia
near-exact synonym; it stays focused on germs rather than dirt more generally.
- phobia of infection
broader phrase; it can stress catching disease rather than contact with dirty surfaces.
文法句型
have mysophobia
suffer from mysophobia
mysophobia about germs
用法筆記
Usually about invisible germs on shared objects, skin, food, or public surfaces. Distinguish from sense 2, which is broader and can focus on dirtiness or contamination even when germs are not the main idea.
常見錯誤
2. an unhealthy fear or strong disgust toward dirt, mess, or things felt to be uncl
an unhealthy fear or strong disgust toward dirt, mess, or things felt to be unclean, especially when visible dirt matters more than germs.
Soraya's mysophobia made her change shoes before walking from the hall into the kitchen.
visible dirt trigger inside the home
After the basement flood, Henrik's mysophobia kept him from touching the wet boxes.
pattern: kept [person] from touching [dirty object]
Rania's mysophobia turns a little mud on the dog's paws into a major crisis.
Mysophobia stopped Christopher from sitting on the park bench after the rain.
The therapist linked Liang's mysophobia to visible dirt and anything he saw as dirty.
- germophobia
narrower; it points more directly to germs than to dirt or visible uncleanness.
- obsession with cleanliness
describes the behavior more than the fear; someone may act this way without having a phobia.
文法句型
have mysophobia
suffer from mysophobia
mysophobia about dirt or contamination
用法筆記
Often triggered by visible dirt, mud, stains, wet public surfaces, or objects judged unclean. Distinguish from sense 1, which focuses more narrowly on germs and fear of illness.