What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
astraphobia
Example
She suffers from astraphobia and gets extremely anxious during thunderstorms. [astraphobia: noun]
Example
His astraphobia causes him to seek shelter immediately at the first sign of lightning. [astraphobia: noun]
brontophobia
Example
Her brontophobia makes her tremble and hide whenever she hears thunder. [brontophobia: noun]
Example
He has brontophobia, so he always wears noise-canceling headphones during thunderstorms. [brontophobia: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Astraphobia is more commonly used than brontophobia in everyday language. Astraphobia is a broader term that covers fear of both thunder and lightning, which are often experienced together during storms. On the other hand, brontophobia is a more specific term that focuses solely on fear of thunder.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between astraphobia and brontophobia?
Both astraphobia and brontophobia are formal terms used in the field of psychology to describe specific anxiety disorders. They are not commonly used in informal or casual conversations.