claustrophobia
noun
claus·tro·pho·bia
| \ ˌklȯ-strə-ˈfō-bē-ə
\
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Definition of claustrophobia
1
: abnormal dread of being in closed or narrow spaces
2
: a feeling of discomfort or discontent caused by being in a limiting or restrictive situation or environment
While recovering in the hospital, she recognizes the claustrophobia of her working-class life, shared with a suffocatingly affectionate mother and a dud of a dad.— Barbara Tritel
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Other Words from claustrophobia
claustrophobe
\ ˈklȯ-strə-ˌfōb
\
noun
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noun
Examples of claustrophobia in a Sentence
She doesn't go in elevators because of her claustrophobia.
the claustrophobia of small-town life
Recent Examples on the Web
Except for a few scenes, most of the movie takes place in the forest, feeding a subconscious sense of claustrophobia. — Travis Deshong, chicagotribune.com, "‘Them That Follow’ review: A pastor’s daughter reveals a secret that wreaks havoc on congregation," 10 Aug. 2019 This claustrophobia-inducing habitat is no match for Randall’s drive. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, "Steve Irwin's Apprentice Jack Randall Crawls Through Narrow Cave With 12-Foot Python," 3 July 2019 So, more specifically, claustrophobia, panic and that type of thing. — Alvin Chang, Vox, "Every time Ford and Kavanaugh answered the question — and didn't answer the question," 28 Sep. 2018 The desk, a thin shelf squeezed between the bed and the bathroom, creates a bit of claustrophobia because the space is so tight, and the headboard partly blocks the window view. — Kathryn B. Creedy, latimes.com, "TWA Hotel at JFK airport feels straight out of the '60s," 23 June 2019 Great fun for those with a sense of adventure, not for those who suffer from claustrophobia. — Glasgow, USA TODAY, "Glasgow, Gateway to Scotland: Witness the beauty and history of these 15 majestic castles," 13 June 2019 As many as 5 percent of Americans may suffer from claustrophobia in some form, according to HealthResearchFunding.org, and up to 13 percent of patients who received an MRI reported having a panic attack. — Eric Pianin, Washington Post, "Claustrophobia can turn MRI into frightening experience," 11 Mar. 2018 The two windows at each row, and capacious overhead bins, will also combat claustrophobia. — Barbara Peterson, Condé Nast Traveler, "5 New Planes That Will Change the Way You Travel," 4 Sep. 2018 The claustrophobia was awful for the diggers working 9 feet below ground, in an oval 18 inches wide and 14 inches high. — Daniel Ford, WSJ, "‘The Escape Artists’ Review: Keep Calm and Keep Shoveling," 27 Sep. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'claustrophobia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for claustrophobia
claustrophobia
noun
English Language Learners Definition of claustrophobia
: a fear of being in closed or small spaces
: an unhappy or uncomfortable feeling caused by being in a situation that limits or restricts you
See the full definition for claustrophobia in the English Language Learners Dictionary
claustrophobia
noun
claus·tro·pho·bia
| \ ˌklȯ-strə-ˈfō-bē-ə
\
\
Medical Definition of claustrophobia
: abnormal dread of being in closed or narrow spaces