photophobic
1
8.9
- adjective
- /ˌfoʊtəˈfoʊbɪk/
- Specialized
- Many insects are photophobic, preferring the darkness to avoid predators and heat from the sun.
Examples
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After spending too much time in the sun, she realized she was photophobic and needed to wear sunglasses outdoors.
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I went to my optometrist, and it turns out that I'm photophobic—do you get that static fuzzy stuff in front of your eyes before a migraine?
Blog text (4) -
What's photophobic?
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The vectors were expressed in the lite-1(ce314) background to prevent any potential photophobic responses (Husson et al. 2013).
Academic text (2017) -
People who are photophobic often find bright lights uncomfortable and may seek darker environments.
Synonyms
4
4.9
Something that changes when light hits it
2
7.2
React strongly to light, often changing color or breaking down
1
9.9
Tending to avoid sunlight or to be harmed by it
1
9.9
Avoids light and lives in dark places
Tending to avoid light and stay in dark places
How Sensitive
- Specialized
1
8.9
- Specialized
4
4.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Photophobic comes from two Greek parts: photo- meaning 'light', as in photograph, and -phobic meaning 'fear', as in phobia. So photophobic literally means 'fear of light', and it describes people, animals, or plants that avoid or are harmed by bright light.