How to Pronounce Atelophobia
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Atelophobia Pronunciation
ah-tel-oh-FOH-bee-ah
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
ah
tel
oh
FOH
stress here
bee
ah
6 syllables
What is Atelophobia?
A persistent, irrational fear of imperfection or of not being good enough. It is closely tied to social anxiety because sufferers fear that others will see their flaws, leading to avoidance of situations where they might be evaluated.
Questions About Atelophobia
How do you pronounce atelophobia?
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Atelophobia is pronounced ah-tel-oh-FOH-bee-ah. The stress falls on the third syllable, which is the "FOH" part—say it a bit louder and longer than the other parts. A common mistake is stressing the first or second syllable instead, which changes how the word sounds.
What are the syllables in atelophobia?
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Atelophobia breaks into five syllables: a-tel-o-pho-bi-a. Saying each part slowly helps you hear how they fit together before you speed up to say the whole word.
Which syllable do I stress when saying atelophobia?
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You stress the fourth syllable: ah-tel-oh-FOH-bee-ah. The "FOH" gets the emphasis, and the other syllables are said more quickly and quietly around it.
What does the word part 'atelo-' mean in atelophobia?
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The 'atelo-' part comes from Greek and means "incomplete" or "imperfect." This root appears in a few medical words related to things that are not fully formed or developed, which is why atelophobia literally points to a fear connected to incompleteness.
What does the '-phobia' part mean in atelophobia?
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The '-phobia' ending comes from Greek and means "fear of." You'll see this same ending in many other fear-related words like claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) or agoraphobia (fear of open spaces).
What does atelophobia mean in simple, everyday language?
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Atelophobia means an intense, ongoing fear of being imperfect or not being good enough. In everyday terms, it's when someone is deeply afraid that they or their work won't measure up, especially when others might be watching or judging.
What is a related word that shares the same root as atelophobia?
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Atelophobic is the adjective form—it means "relating to or experiencing atelophobia." You might hear someone described as atelophobic, the same way someone can be described as claustrophobic.
Can you use atelophobia in a sentence?
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Here's an example: "The public speaking event triggered her atelophobia, making her worry that everyone would notice any mistake she made." This shows how the word is used to name the specific fear that affects someone's choices or feelings.