claustrophobia
gb/klˌɔstɹəfˈoʊbiə/ us/klˌɔstɹəfˈoʊbiə/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
state
1
fear of enclosed spaces
a strong fear of small, closed spaces
Usage pattern:
[someone] has claustrophobia; claustrophobia about/in [place/activity]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with agoraphobia (fear of open/public spaces).
Synonyms
fear of enclosed spaces (A plain descriptive phrase; less clinical than the noun claustrophobia.)
|
enclosed-space anxiety (Emphasizes anxiety rather than fear; less common in everyday speech.)
Collocations
severe claustrophobia
|mild claustrophobia
|diagnosed with claustrophobia
|suffer from claustrophobia
|claustrophobia in elevators
|claustrophobia in tunnels
|claustrophobia during an MRI
|overcome claustrophobia
|claustrophobia symptoms
|trigger claustrophobia
Themes
health
|mental_health
|emotions
Examples
- His claustrophobia makes it hard for him to ride in elevators.
- She had a panic attack because of claustrophobia during the MRI scan.
- The narrow cave passage triggered my claustrophobia.
Learner examples
- I have claustrophobia, so I avoid small rooms.
- My claustrophobia is worse in elevators.
Noun
C1
state
2
uneasy feeling in tight places
feeling uncomfortable because a place is too small or crowded
Usage pattern:
a feeling/sense of claustrophobia in [place]
Common mistake:
This use is often about feeling 'closed in' and may be temporary; it does not always mean a medical phobia.
Synonyms
closed-in feeling (More general and informal; focuses on the sensation rather than fear.)
|
crampedness (Usually physical discomfort; less about anxiety or panic.)
Collocations
a sense of claustrophobia
|a feeling of claustrophobia
|sudden claustrophobia
|claustrophobia on the subway
|claustrophobia in a crowded room
|claustrophobia on public transport
|claustrophobia in the back seat
|claustrophobia in a small office
|claustrophobia in a packed bar
|the claustrophobia of the crowd
Themes
daily_life
|emotions
Examples
- Halfway through the concert, a wave of claustrophobia hit me in the crowd.
- The low ceiling and narrow hallway gave the apartment a sense of claustrophobia.
- I felt claustrophobia in the back seat with all the luggage piled up.
Learner examples
- I felt claustrophobia on the crowded train.
Noun
C2
abstract
3
feeling trapped by a situation
feeling like you cannot escape a situation
Usage pattern:
claustrophobia about [situation]; the claustrophobia of [situation]
Common mistake:
Even in figurative use, it implies pressure and lack of escape, not just boredom.
Synonyms
confinement (Broader and less emotional; can be literal or abstract.)
|
trapped feeling (More direct and conversational; less metaphorical than claustrophobia.)
Collocations
the claustrophobia of office life
|the claustrophobia of routine
|a claustrophobia of deadlines
|feel claustrophobia about commitment
|urban claustrophobia
|social claustrophobia
|claustrophobia of small-town life
|claustrophobia of constant messages
Themes
emotions
|work
|relationships
Examples
- After months of remote work, he began to feel a kind of claustrophobia about his routine.
- The claustrophobia of constant monitoring made the job hard to tolerate.
- She felt claustrophobia at the thought of staying in one role forever.
Learner examples
- I felt claustrophobia in my old job.
Grammar
Dictionary form
claustrophobia
IPA
GB/klˌɔstɹəfˈoʊbiə/
US/klˌɔstɹəfˈoʊbiə/
Syllables & stress
claus - tro - pho - bia (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (pho)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: claustrophobia
- Plural: claustrophobia, claustrophobias
Word family
Forms
claustrophobias
noun
Core family
claustrophobic
adjective B2
Related words
claustrophobe
noun
Advanced or less common
claustrophobically
adverb
Expressions
a touch of claustrophobia
1/ə tˈʌt͡ʃ əv klˌɔstɹəfˈoʊbiə/
fixed phrase
a mild feeling of claustrophobia
a little claustrophobia
Examples
- I get a touch of claustrophobia on packed trains.
- The tiny changing room gave me a touch of claustrophobia.
claustrophobia sets in
1/klˌɔstɹəfˈoʊbiə sˈɛts ˈɪn/
fixed phrase
claustrophobia begins suddenly
the fear starts and feels strong
Examples
- After ten minutes in the tunnel, claustrophobia set in.
- As the doors closed, he felt claustrophobia setting in.
claustrophobia-inducing
1/klˌɔstɹəfˈoʊbiə ɪndˈusɪŋ/
fixed phrase
likely to cause claustrophobia
making you feel afraid in small spaces
Examples
- The basement corridor was dark and claustrophobia-inducing.
- Some people find crowded elevators claustrophobia-inducing.
suffer from claustrophobia
1/sˈʌfɚ fɹˈʌm klˌɔstɹəfˈoʊbiə/
fixed phrase
have claustrophobia as a condition
to have claustrophobia
Examples
- He suffers from claustrophobia, so he takes the stairs instead of the elevator.
- If you suffer from claustrophobia, tell the technician before the scan begins.
trigger someone's claustrophobia
1/tɹˈɪɡɚ sˈʌmwˌʌnz klˌɔstɹəfˈoʊbiə/
fixed phrase
cause claustrophobia feelings
to make someone feel claustrophobic
Examples
- The mask can trigger his claustrophobia, so we take breaks during treatment.
- Being locked in can trigger my claustrophobia.