cabin fever

noun

: extreme irritability and restlessness from living in isolation or a confined indoor area for a prolonged time

Examples of cabin fever in a Sentence

She suffered from cabin fever during the long winter.

a bad case of cabin fever

Recent Examples on the Web

The lightkeepers of yore almost went mad from cabin fever and constant foghorns. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025

With gyms and fitness studios closed and cabin fever setting in, many took to strolling as a way to get moving out of the house. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Part supernatural chiller, part psychological thriller (with a dash of sub-zero cabin fever thrown in for atmosphere), The Shining is the ultimate combination of a typical horror movie and an art film. —EW.com, 23 May 2025

Thanks to a monster snowstorm that hit the area, the family had been cooped up inside for several days — and cabin fever was setting in. —Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cabin fever

• unbeliever
• achiever
• believer
• deceiver
• perceiver
• receiver
• reliever
• retriever
• transceiver
• cleaver
• leaver
• weaver