Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

hierophobia

Noun
/haɪərəˈfɔːbiə/
Definition
The fear of sacred things or holy places.
Examples
  • She felt a strong sense of anxiety whenever she approached the cathedral due to her hierophobia.
  • People with hierophobia may struggle in religious communities or events that involve sacred rituals.
  • His hierophobia developed after a traumatic experience that took place in a church.
Meaning
Hierophobia is characterized by an irrational fear or extreme aversion to anything considered holy or sacred, which may cause significant anxiety or distress to the individual.
Synonyms
  • Sacred fear
  • Holy anxiety
  • Religious phobia