mysophobia

[ mahy-suh-foh-bee-uh ]

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of germs and contamination.

Other Words From

• my·so·phobe [mahy, -s, uh, -fohb], noun
• my·so·pho·bic adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mysophobia¹

First recorded in 1875–80; from Greek mýso(s) “pollution, defilement, terrible sight” + -phobia

Example Sentences

Still, it's tempting to pick out certain traits – like her mysophobia or her obsession with starring in holiday song-and-dance performances despite being ridiculously tone deaf – and link them to specific leaders.

From Salon

Q: So, you have mysophobia, which is the intense fear of germs or an irrational fear of germs.

From Washington Post

Like many children with autism, Ke Jun has some extremely personal habits, such as mysophobia – he couldn’t touch the leaked acrylic paint while painting.

From Time

The victim of mysophobia will wash the hands after touching any object, and will, so far as possible, avoid touching objects which he thinks may possibly convey infection.

From Project Gutenberg