matrophobia means the fear of becoming like one's mother. It carries an Arena rating of 1421, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, matrophobia ranks #353 of 17,131 for Scariest Words, #1,833 of 17,132 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #1,845 of 17,163 for Funniest Words, #4,197 of 17,138 for Most Incisive Words.
Why “matrophobia” is a great word
Matrophobia is the fear of internalizing or resembling one's own mother. Coined by the poet Lynn Sukenick from the combining form matri- (from Latin *mater*, 'mother') + -phobia (from Greek *-phobos*, 'fearing'). Unlike matriphobia (the fear of mothers themselves) or ambivalence (a more general state of conflicted feeling), matrophobia is a cold, inward gaze at the self as a potential mirror. It is the quick, reflexive correction of a familiar phrase in one's own mouth, the shock of seeing one's mother's hands at the ends of one's own wrists, or the flinch at the sound of her laughter emerging from one's throat—a quiet horror at the inevitable inheritance of the self.
Etymology
Coined by the poet Lynn Sukenick; equivalent to matri- + -phobia.
noun
- The fear of becoming like one's mother.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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