What does "hydrophobia" mean?
An aversion to water, as a symptom of rabies; the disease of rabies itself.
Hydrophobia
/ˌhʌɪ.dɹə(ʊ)ˈfəʊ.bɪ.ə/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An aversion to water, as a symptom of rabies; the disease of rabies itself.
- Grammar: hydrophobia is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: rabies, acute articular rheumatism, african lethargy, ague.
- Useful contrasts: aquaphilia, water tolerance.
- Usage evidence: […] Cato, who ſcorned both death and fortune, could not abide the ſight of a looking glaſſe or of water; overcome with horrour, and quelled with amazement, if by the contagion of a mad dog he had falne into that ſickneſſe which Phiſitians call Hydroforbia, or feare of waters.
How to use "hydrophobia"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hydrophobia" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "hydrophobia" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "hydrophobia" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 An aversion to water, as a symptom of rabies; the disease of rabies itself. countable, uncountable
"[…] Cato, who ſcorned both death and fortune, could not abide the ſight of a looking glaſſe or of water; overcome with horrour, and quelled with amazement, if by the contagion of a mad dog he had falne into that ſickneſſe which Phiſitians call Hydroforbia, or feare of waters."
- 2 an acute viral disease of the nervous system of warm-blooded animals (usually transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal); rabies is fatal if the virus reaches the brain wordnet
- 3 A morbid fear of water; aquaphobia. colloquial, countable, uncountable
"[page 39] HydroPhobias begin on land long before casting off. But once at sea, fear is quickly lost in the joys and pleasures of the passage. […] [page 40] There are three HydroPhobias. The Big Three. Two of the Big Three are fears that prevent landlubbers from becoming sailors. The third is primal and common to all mankind. The Big Three are 1) Fear of Flatland, 2) Fear of Being with Self, and 3) The Fear of Bogeymen."
- 4 a morbid fear of water wordnet
- 5 A lack of affinity for water; the quality of being hydrophobic countable, uncountable
Show 1 more definition
- 6 a symptom of rabies in humans consisting of an aversion to swallowing liquids wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
aquaphiliawater tolerance
Example
"[…] Cato, who ſcorned both death and fortune, could not abide the ſight of a looking glaſſe or of water; overcome with horrour, and quelled with amazement, if by the contagion of a mad dog he had falne into that ſickneſſe which Phiſitians call Hydroforbia, or feare of waters."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "hydrophobia"?
Common synonyms include: rabies, acute articular rheumatism, african lethargy, ague, alkali disease, amathophobia.
How do you use "hydrophobia" in a sentence?
[…] Cato, who ſcorned both death and fortune, could not abide the ſight of a looking glaſſe or of water; overcome with horrour, and quelled with amazement, if by the contagion of a mad dog he had falne into that ſickneſſe which Phiſitians call Hydroforbia, or feare of waters.
How do you pronounce "hydrophobia"?
Pronounced /ˌhʌɪ.dɹə(ʊ)ˈfəʊ.bɪ.ə/.
Etymology
From Middle English idroforbia (“hydrophobia”), from Latin hydrophobia, from Ancient Greek ὑδροφοβία (hudrophobía), from ὑδρο- (hudro-), combining form of ῠ̔́δωρ (hŭ́dōr, “water”), + φοβία (phobía, “phobia”). The word is analysable as hydro- + -phobia.