Which term describes an intense, irrational fear?

The term that describes an intense, irrational fear is "phobia." Phobias are characterized by a persistent and excessive fear of a specific object or situation that typically leads to avoidance behavior. Individuals with phobias may recognize that their fear is irrational, but this awareness often does not alleviate the intense emotional response they experience when confronted with the feared stimulus.

For example, a person with a specific phobia, such as arachnophobia, feels overwhelming fear at the sight of spiders, which can lead to significant distress or even panic attacks. The reaction is disproportionate to the actual threat posed by the object of fear, which is a hallmark of phobic conditions.

In contrast, panic disorder involves sudden, unexpected bouts of intense fear or discomfort, not necessarily triggered by a specific object or situation. Obsessive-compulsive disorder includes unwanted recurring thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety, rather than a focused fear. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by chronic excessive worry about various aspects of life but does not specifically describe an intense fear of a particular thing. Thus, phobia is the appropriate term for a persistent and irrational fear.