tomophobia

noun

to·​mo·​pho·​bia ˌtō-mə-ˈfō-bē-ə How to pronounce tomophobia (audio)
: intense fear of surgery or surgical procedures
We present the case of a 69-year-old … man who refused urgently indicated medical intervention because of severe tomophobia.—Marcus Schmid et al.
tomophobe
ˈtō-mə-ˌfōb How to pronounce tomophobia (audio)
noun
or tomophobic
ˌtō-mə-ˈfō-bik How to pronounce tomophobia (audio)
plural tomophobes or tomophobics
tomophobic adjective
tomophobic fears

Word History

Etymology

Greek tomḗ "act of cutting, incision" (nominal derivative from the base of témnein "to cut") + -o- + -phobia — more at tome

First Known Use

circa 1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tomophobia was circa 1958

Dictionary Entries Near tomophobia

tomography

tomophobia

tomopterid

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Tomophobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tomophobia. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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