claustrophobic

adjective

claus·​tro·​pho·​bic ˌklȯ-strə-ˈfō-bik 

1

: affected with or inclined to claustrophobia

2

: inducing or suggesting claustrophobia

claustrophobically

ˌklȯ-strə-ˈfō-bi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of claustrophobic in a Sentence

The theater can be a little claustrophobic when it's full.

She doesn't go in elevators because she is claustrophobic.

Recent Examples on the Web

This claustrophobic series is permeated with a growing sense of dread and relies heavily on an excellent performance from Athie. —Simon Hill, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024

What begins as a blast of carefree play soon turns into a claustrophobic horror story. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024

Dreyer shoots his film in claustrophobic closeups, effectively trapping the audience within Joan’s plight. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 7 Sep. 2024

Couple that with cancel culture and the claustrophobic spaces still open for innovation and experimentation, and the limitations (very clearly) exist. —Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

claustrophobic

1 of 2 adjective

claus·​tro·​pho·​bic ˌklȯ-strə-ˈfō-bik 

1

: suffering from or inclined to claustrophobia

2

: inducing or suggesting claustrophobia

claustrophobically

-bi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

claustrophobic

2 of 2 noun

: claustrophobe