Holy vs Hagiophobia - What's the difference?

As nouns the difference between holy and hagiophobia

is that holy is (archaic) a thing that is extremely holy; used almost exclusively in (holy of holies) while hagiophobia is the fear, dislike, or hatred of holiness and/or of holy things.

As an adjective holy

is dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.

holy

English

Adjective

(er)

Dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.

I'm planning to visit the holy city of Mecca this Ramadan.

Revered in a religion.

Perfect or flawless.

Separated or set apart from (something unto something or someone else).

Set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose, or for use by a single entity or person.

(slang) Used as an intensifier in various interjections.

Holy cow, I can’t believe he actually lost the race!

Synonyms

* (dedicated to a religious purpose or a god) sacred * (revered in a religion) sacred * faultless, flawless, perfect * (separated or set apart from something) sanctified * (set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose) reserved, special

Antonyms

* (dedicated to a religious purpose or a god) * (revered in a religion) profane, secular, unholy, worldly * damaged, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect * (separated or set apart from something) * (set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose) common

Derived terms

* holiest of holies * holiness * holy cats * holy cow * holy crap * Holy Ghost * Holy Grail * Holy of Holies * holy mackerel * holy moly, holy moley * holy Moses * holy mother of God * Holy See * holy shit * holy smoke * holy snakes * Holy Spirit * holy Toledo * Holy Trinity * holy war * holy water * Holy Week

Noun

(holies)

(archaic) A thing that is extremely holy; used almost exclusively in (Holy of Holies).

* Franz von Reber, Joseph Thacher Clarke, History of Ancient Art (1882) p. 146:

The holy of holies, a cubical space of ten cubits on the side, was separated from the larger antechamber by four columns, which were also covered with gold and stood upon silver sockets; they bore a second curtain of four colors.

Derived terms

* holiest of holies * Holy of Holies

hagiophobia

English

Noun

(-)

The fear, dislike, or hatred of holiness and/or of holy things.

* 1895 , E. P. Evans, "Recent Recrudescence of Superstition", The Popular Science Monthly , November 1895, page 73:

As regards Michael Zilk, Father Aurelian was perfectly justified in assuming that he was possessed with a devil, since all the signs favored this presumption, such as sudden paroxysms, abnormal bodily strength, hagiophobia , or strange dread of holy things, and demoniac ecstasy.

* 1930 , Selden Peabody Delany, Why Rome , The Dial Press (1930), page 54:

Perhaps they are afraid that veneration of the saints may lead to putting them in the place of God as objects of worship. If they ever outgrow this hagiophobia they may some day venerate the Gloomy Dean as a saint.

* 1970 , Julian A. Joffe, Studies in the History of Civilization , Philosophical Library (1970), page 70:

When in the midst of the growing antagonism pusillanimous purveyors recite segments from hagiology and incite the masses with hagiophobia the violence may become uncontrollable since its cause becomes a virtual crusade.