xenophobic

[ zen-uh-foh-bik, zee-nuh‑ ]

adjective

1. relating to or exhibiting fear or hatred of foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers.
2. relating to or exhibiting fear or dislike of the customs, dress, etc., of people who are culturally different.

Other Words From

• xeno·phobi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of xenophobic¹

First recorded in 1910–15; xenophob(ia) + -ic

Example Sentences

Nevertheless Georgescu denies that his programme is in any way antisemitic or xenophobic.

From BBC

Downplaying Trump’s incendiary threats of violence until just a few weeks before the election, provided both tacit and explicit sanction to xenophobic, racist and authoritarian impulses that have long simmered in the American undercurrent.

From Salon

Adetshina originally competed in the Miss South Africa contest, as she was born and grew up in the country, however she was subjected to trolling and xenophobic abuse because her father is Nigerian.

From BBC

Molina would have understood the parallels between the deportations and xenophobic policies of her times.

From Los Angeles Times

The senator, whose running mate has promised to reinstate a controversial Muslim ban, also repeated a xenophobic joke that the UK would become “the first Islamist country with nuclear weapons.”

From Salon

Related Words

• biased
• bigoted
• dictatorial
• disdainful
• dogmatic
• fanatical
• fractious
• hateful
• indignant
• irritable
• racist