hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

English

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hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (common misspelling, perhaps on purpose, to make the word even longer)

From hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian, an extension of sesquipedalian with monstrum "monster" and a truncated, misspelled form of hippopotamus, intended to exaggerate the length of the word itself and the idea of the size of the words being feared; combined with phobia.

Singular
hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia (uncountable)

The fear of long words, ironically. It is literally the hippopotamus- and monster-related fear of very long words.

Ben is a sufferer of a mild form of hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

It is unlikely that this 15-syllable contrivance is ever used purely for its meaning. The term sesquipedaliophobia is recognized in formal writing, while the four-syllable phrase "fear of long words" is certainly worth considering.
In the book, Useless Knowledge, this enormous word was misinterpreted by the authors as two words, causing them to list the fear of long words as the following:
- hippopotomonstroses
- quippedaliophobia

These fragments appear to be quoted occasionally in other sources.

2002 - However, we assume that despite the best endeavours of science, some phobias will always remain. These include paraskavedekatriaphobia, or fear of Friday the 13th. And hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, which is fear of long words. - anon, The Scotsman (April 9, 2002) page 13.
2002 - Those who find this column troubling are suffering from hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia- the fear of long words. Or, more likely, rupophobia - a fear of rubbish. - Chris Lloyd in The Northern Echo (December 14, 2002) page 10 [1]
2005, SEMPTEMBER 30^TH: D. Harlan Wilson, Pseudo-City, p183 (Raw Dog Screaming Press; ISBN 1933293020 (10), ISBN 978-1933293028 (13))

Coincidentally there is a masochistic PCP with hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words) curled up in an alleyway across the street. He has been whispering “Antidisestablishmentarianism” to himself over and over for two days now, experiencing up to one orgasm every three hours as a result of The Pain …

the fear of long words