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Definition of misophonia

misophonia

/ˌmɪs.əˈfoʊ.ni.ə/
mis · o · pho · ni · a

Adjective:misophonic
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misophonia Lexical Profile

misophonia Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A neurobehavioral syndrome in which specific everyday sounds, such as chewing, breathing, or tapping, trigger an intensely negative emotional or physiological response, often involving anger, disgust, or a fight-or-flight reaction.

Example

"Students with misophonia may find it nearly impossible to concentrate during an exam if someone nearby is repeatedly clicking a pen."

Word Nuance & Usage

Misophonia should be distinguished from hyperacusis; misophonia is an emotional or physiological aversion to specific pattern-based noises (like chewing), whereas hyperacusis is a physical sensitivity to the general volume and frequency of sounds.

• Rhymes for misophonia

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 2001 by audiologists Pawel and Margaret Jastreboff, derived from Ancient Greek 'misos' (hatred), 'phōnē' (sound), and the suffix '-ia' (denoting a condition).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Misophonia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/misophonia
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