Acrophobia is a common fear of heights that affects millions of people around the world. It is a type of anxiety disorder that can cause intense feelings of panic and fear, even when there is no real danger present. The term “acrophobe” is used to describe someone who suffers from this condition.
Definitions
An acrophobe is a person who has an intense fear of heights. This fear can be so severe that it can cause physical symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and sweating. Acrophobia is a type of phobia, which is an irrational and persistent fear of a specific object or situation.
Origin
The word “acrophobe” is derived from the Greek words “akros,” meaning “high,” and “phobos,” meaning “fear.” The term was first used in the early 20th century to describe people with a fear of heights.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an acrophobe is “a person who has an abnormal fear of heights.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “a person who is afraid of heights, especially to the point of experiencing panic attacks.”
Associations
Acrophobia is often associated with other anxiety disorders such as agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) and claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces). It can also be linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if the fear of heights is triggered by a traumatic event.
Synonyms
Some synonyms for acrophobe include height phobic, vertigo sufferer, and fear of heights victim.
Antonyms
The antonym of acrophobe is acrophile, which refers to someone who enjoys being at high altitudes or has a love of heights.
The same root words
Some words that share the same root words as acrophobe include acrophobia (fear of heights), acrobat (a performer who performs stunts at high altitudes), and acropolis (a high fortified area in ancient Greece).
Example Sentences
- The acrophobe was too scared to climb the ladder to change the light bulb.
- The acrophobe had to close their eyes during the elevator ride to the top of the skyscraper.
- The acrophobe’s fear of heights prevented them from enjoying the beautiful view from the mountaintop.
- The acrophobe’s therapist recommended exposure therapy to help them overcome their fear.
- The acrophobe’s friends tried to persuade them to go on a hot air balloon ride, but they declined due to their fear of heights.