What is sesquipedalophobia?

Sesquipedalophobia is the fear of long words, also referred to as Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia. It is a rare phobia, and the term is often used humorously due to its ironic reference to the long words in its definition. However, for people with this phobia, the fear of encountering long words can cause significant anxiety, with symptoms that may include sweating, shaking, rapid heartbeat, and panic attacks. The exact causes of Sesquipedalophobia are unknown, but like most phobias, it may be triggered by a past traumatic event, genetic factors, or a learned response. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are some of the recommended treatments for managing Sesquipedalophobia.