claustrophobic
adjective
claus·tro·pho·bic
ˌklȯ-strə-ˈfō-bik 
1
: affected with or inclined to claustrophobia
2
: inducing or suggesting claustrophobia
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
Writer-director Mary Bronstein’s Montauk-set film is not always an easy one to sit through, placing the viewer at claustrophobic proximity to Byrne’s Linda, a therapist with a young daughter with a mysterious eating disorder, who is struggling to retain her grip.
—
Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 21 July 2025
That’s what made Scream VI’s switch to the city so shocking—a bold, creative shift that gave the franchise a new flavor: urban paranoia, subway horror and claustrophobic high-rises had replaced quiet suburbia.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Impeccably directed and impressively acted, this slow-burn story of political injustice is filled to the brim with atmosphere — specifically the stifling, claustrophobic atmosphere of the U.S.S.R. at the height of Stalin’s Great Purge.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
That means leaving her claustrophobic clan of single women in Great Neck; Rhea Perlman, Rita Wilson, and Dunham play her grandma, mom, and sister.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for claustrophobic
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 21 July 2025
That’s what made Scream VI’s switch to the city so shocking—a bold, creative shift that gave the franchise a new flavor: urban paranoia, subway horror and claustrophobic high-rises had replaced quiet suburbia.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Impeccably directed and impressively acted, this slow-burn story of political injustice is filled to the brim with atmosphere — specifically the stifling, claustrophobic atmosphere of the U.S.S.R. at the height of Stalin’s Great Purge.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
That means leaving her claustrophobic clan of single women in Great Neck; Rhea Perlman, Rita Wilson, and Dunham play her grandma, mom, and sister.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for claustrophobic
Cite this Entry
“Claustrophobic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/claustrophobic. Accessed 27 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
claustrophobic
2 of 2 nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share