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

Production designer Anthony Gasparro had experience showing claustrophobic Manhattan apartments for Tadpole, and set decorator Amy Beth Silver made the Soho lofts in Sofia Coppola’s On the Rocks feel like they were put together by actual New Yorkers with taste. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 16 June 2025

So how did this song with the sub-aquatic groove and the claustrophobic lyrics still become a No. 1 hit? —Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 12 June 2025

Much of the episode takes place on board that claustrophobic train. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 June 2025

The directors borrowed the claustrophobic intensity of Sidney Lumet’s 1957 classic and fused it with the ambiguity of Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall to reflect skepticism toward both the judicial process and the media machine surrounding it. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for claustrophobic

• anaerobic
• homophobic
• hydrophobic
• aerobic
• phobic

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