astraphobia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Technical (clinical/psychological); can be used informally.
Quick answer
What does “astraphobia” mean?
A persistent and irrational fear of thunder and lightning.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A persistent and irrational fear of thunder and lightning.
While the core meaning is a clinical phobia, the term can also be used informally to describe an intense, non-clinical fear or aversion to storms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “astraphobia” in a Sentence
NOUN (subject/object): His astraphobia is severe.PREP (from, with): She suffers from astraphobia.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “astraphobia” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- n/a
American English
- n/a
adverb
British English
- n/a
American English
- n/a
adjective
British English
- The astraphobic patient needed therapy.
- An astraphobic reaction was triggered by the forecast.
American English
- The astraphobic child hid in the closet.
- His astraphobic response was immediate.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in psychology and psychiatry papers.
Everyday
Rare; would be used to specifically describe a diagnosed condition or an intense, known fear.
Technical
Specific term in clinical psychology for a type of specific phobia.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “astraphobia”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “astraphobia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “astraphobia”
- Misspelling: 'astraphobia', 'astraphobia'.
- Confusing it with agoraphobia or acrophobia.
- Using it to mean a general dislike of rain, rather than a specific fear of thunder/lightning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A phobia is a clinically significant anxiety disorder involving intense, irrational fear leading to avoidance, distress, and impaired functioning, not just normal caution.
They are often used interchangeably. Strictly, astraphobia emphasises fear of lightning (and the storm), while brontophobia specifies fear of thunder. In practice, they overlap significantly.
Common treatments include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and sometimes medication to manage anxiety symptoms.
Yes, animals like dogs and cats can exhibit symptoms very similar to astraphobia, such as panic, hiding, trembling, or destructive behaviour during thunderstorms.
A persistent and irrational fear of thunder and lightning.
Astraphobia is usually formal / technical (clinical/psychological); can be used informally. in register.
Astraphobia: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæs.trəˈfəʊ.bi.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæs.trəˈfoʊ.bi.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “n/a”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A STRAw PHOBlA. Imagine someone so afraid of lightning they hide under a straw roof, which is a poor choice during a storm, highlighting the irrational fear.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEAR IS A TRAP / STORM IS AN ASSAILANT.
Practice
Quiz
Astraphobia is most specifically a fear of: