Nachlophobia

Cover image for the Nachlophobia word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Nachlophobia

n.
the fear that your deepest connections with people are ultimately pretty shallow, that although your relationships feel congenial in the moment, an audit of your life would reveal a smattering of low-interest holdings and uninvested windfall profits, which will indicate you were never really at risk of joy, sacrifice, or loss.

Greek αναχλός (anachlós), loosely held together + -φοβία (-phobía), fear. May also appear as apomakrysmenophobia. Pronounced “nok-luh-foh-bee-uh.”

Burn Upon Reentry

Cover image for the Burn Upon Reentry word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Chrysalism

Cover image for the Chrysalism word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Jouska

Cover image for the Jouska word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Boorance

a group of objects on a table

Looseleft

Cover image for the Looseleft word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Cullaways

a lone sand castle on a beach at low tide