# claustrophobic

/ˌkɫɔstɹəˈfoʊbɪk/ (US) · /klˌɒstɹəfˈəʊbɪk/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/claustrophobic
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

feeling very nervous or scared when you are in a small, closed space. It can also describe a place that feels too small and crowded for you.

For teachers: characterised by a feeling of being trapped or confined in a small space; also describes a person suffering from claustrophobia, a fear of enclosed spaces.

## Examples

- The small elevator feels very claustrophobic.
- Many people find the narrow corridors of the old subway system claustrophobic during rush hour.
- The protagonist's claustrophobic anxiety is mirrored by the film's tight framing and the use of low ceilings to create a sense of suffocation.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.