trypophobia
noun
tryp·o·pho·bia
ˌtri-pə-ˈfō-bē-ə
: fear of or aversion to clusters or repeating patterns of tightly packed small holes or bumps
Trypophobia is a common form of discomfort that is triggered by … holes, such as those found in lotus seed pods.—Tomoko Imura
Decay, disease, or parasitic infection can cause similar densely-packed holes or bumps like those which cause distress in people with trypophobia.—William Hunter
trypophobic
adjective
trypophobic individuals
The shoe's array of pocked cutouts, for air flow, could set off a trypophobic response.
—Nathan Taylor Pemberton
Cite this Entry
“Trypophobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trypophobia. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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