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claustrophobic

claustrophobic

32 7.0
Having a strong fear of small, closed spaces
  • adjective
  • /ˌklɔːstrəˈfoʊbɪk/
translation icon : claustrofóbico
  • I wasn't there for the beginning of the dig because I'm rather claustrophobic," says Travis Parno, a tall, soft-spoken grad student.
  • feel claustrophobic
  • get claustrophobic
  • claustrophobic panic

I really don't, but I almost got claustrophobic trying on this helmet.

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Examples

  • Rick suddenly felt claustrophobic in the narrow access tunnel.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Being cramped up inside for even an afternoon makes her claustrophobic.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • I told you I was claustrophobic.

  • I get claustrophobic, even in the daytime.

  • I'm claustrophobic back here, man.

  • I would not be able to stay in a hotel room that small because I'm claustrophobic.

    Blog text (28)
  • I found out I was claustrophobic the first time I had an MRI.

    Blog text (34)
  • Joanna throws her napkin down and stands up, suddenly feeling claustrophobic and sick to her stomach.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Suddenly claustrophobic, Kroosew looked in vain for a knob or button to open the door.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • She felt claustrophobic when the elevator got stuck between floors.

Synonyms

cramped
vsclaustrophobic
37 3.2

A space that is too small for people to move easily

is a fear focused on being trapped in small enclosed places
cooped up
vsclaustrophobic
  • Informal
28 5.5

Being kept in a small space makes you restless and unhappy

is an intense fear of enclosed places rather than mere restlessness
confining
vsclaustrophobic
1 6.2

A space that is uncomfortably small and makes you feel trapped

is a personal fear of being in such spaces causing panic
confined
vsclaustrophobic
3.7

Kept in one small space and unable to leave

is a specific fear of being unable to escape such situations

Antonyms

29 1.6

Not feeling fear or worry when facing danger

How Claustrophobic

panicky
22 4.1
claustrophobic
32 7.0
uneasy
98 3.2
comfortable
494 1.0

Surface Forms

claustrophobic positive

Morphology

claustrophobic = claustrophobia (transparent) = claustrophobia + ic

Formed directly from the noun 'claustrophobia' with the adjective-forming suffix '-ic', so the meaning 'suffering from or related to claustrophobia' is directly derived.

Etymology

Claustrophobic comes from a root meaning 'closed' (claustro-), a bit like closet, and the part -phobic meaning 'fear'. So a claustrophobic person has a strong fear of small, tightly closed spaces and may avoid elevators or crowded rooms.