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Glite Dictionary
hyperhygienist tendency

hyperhygienist tendency

9.9
A strong habit of washing and cleaning more than needed to avoid germs
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪpərhaɪˈdʒiːnɪst ˈtɛndənsi/
translation icon : tendencia hipohigienista
  • Her hyperhygienist tendency led her to sanitize every surface in her home daily.

Examples

  • The doctor recognized a hyperhygienist tendency in patients who washed their hands dozens of times a day.

  • Many people have developed hyperhygienist tendencies during the pandemic.

  • Because of his hyperhygienist tendency, he avoided using public transportation altogether.

  • Her hyperhygienist tendency makes her avoid public places.

  • Her hyperhygienist tendency makes her wash her hands every time she touches something in public.

  • Due to his hyperhygienist tendency, he refuses to eat anywhere that doesn't meet his cleanliness standards.

  • The hyperhygienist tendency she displays causes her to use disinfectant wipes on groceries before bringing them inside.

Antonyms

carelessness
16 2.8

Lack of attention that causes mistakes or accidents

Surface Forms

hyperhygienist tendency singular
hyperhygienist tendencies plural

Morphology

hyperhygienist + tendency

The phrase is compositionally interpretable as hyper- (excessive) + hygienist/hygiene (concern with cleanliness) + tendency (inclination), so the overall meaning ‘excessive concern for cleanliness’ can be inferred from the parts. However, 'hyperhygienist' is a rare/nonce formation and the internal morphology (hyper- + hygienist vs. hygienic) may not be obvious to a B1 learner, so some prior exposure or morphological awareness is needed.

Etymology

Hyperhygienist tendency combines hyper- (meaning 'too much'), hygienist (someone who cares about cleanliness), and tendency (a habit). Picture a person cleaning everything and avoiding public surfaces all the time; that image helps explain why the phrase means 'excessive concern for cleanliness'.