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Glite Dictionary
💧 Repels water 😨 Afraid of water
hydrophobic

hydrophobic

9.0
Being very afraid of water and avoiding it
  • adjective
  • /haɪdroʊˈfoʊbɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hidrofóbico
  • His hydrophobic tendencies prevent him from swimming.

Examples

  • She developed a hydrophobic reaction to water after a near-drowning experience at the beach.

  • Some children with autism can be hydrophobic and refuse to participate in swimming lessons.

  • Because of her hydrophobic tendencies, she becomes anxious even near small puddles.

  • The patient was diagnosed as hydrophobic following a traumatic water-related incident.

  • She has a hydrophobic reaction to being splashed with water.

  • The hydrophobic child refused to go near the swimming pool during the party.

  • His hydrophobic fears kept him away from any water-related activities, like boating or swimming.

Synonyms

aquaphobic
vshydrophobic
9.8

Feeling very afraid of water, for example pools or the sea

is the same meaning but uses a different form of the word

Antonyms

hydrophilic
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A material that likes water and mixes with it easily

How Afraid

hydrophobic
  • Specialized
9.0
unbothered
  • Informal
1 4.8

Surface Forms

hydrophobic positive

Morphology

hydrophobic = phobic (semi-transparent) = hydro + phobic

The meaning is largely compositional as 'water' + 'fearful', but the learned base 'phobic' and the technical sense may not be fully accessible to an average learner.

Etymology

Hydrophobic comes from the Greek parts hydro- 'water' and -phobic 'afraid', so it literally means 'afraid of water' and is used for someone who has an extreme fear of water.