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

Olivia Cooke and Juliet Stevenson appear to be playing characters from the story the pair starts conjuring together as claustrophobic tensions build. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

In the colossal yet claustrophobic world that Khrzhanovsky has created (or recreated), Russians are stuck between a rock and a hard place, between the hammer and the sickle. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Will banning phones bring real-world clarity and connection to kids’ lives, or deprive them of one of their last routes to autonomy in a claustrophobic world? — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

And also visibility, because the race car is very claustrophobic. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026

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