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claustrophobic

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.34 sec.
claus·tro·pho·bic  (klôstr-fbk)
adj.
1.
a. Relating to or suffering from claustrophobia.
b. Uncomfortably closed or hemmed in.
2. Usage Problem Tending to induce claustrophobia; uncomfortably confined or crowded: a claustrophobic little room.

claustro·phobi·cal·ly adv.
Usage Note: Clinically speaking, claustrophobic refers to an abnormal tendency to feel terror in closed spaces. But like other terms used to describe psychological conditions (narcissistic and schizophrenic, for example), claustrophobic has been applied more loosely in general usage over time. At first it referred to any kind of temporary feeling of being closed in or unable to escape (I felt claustrophobic in that tiny room). Then it became common to use it to refer to any kind of space that might make a person feel such sensations (The staff members are jammed into a nest of claustrophobic offices). This latter usage is unacceptable to 74 percent of the Usage Panel, implying that claustrophobic should be used only to describe a psychological state. Nevertheless, this usage is well established, and it follows a tendency to combine adjectives with nouns according to a progressively looser interpretation of the relationship between the two. For example, the phrase topless swimsuit came to be followed by topless dancers, which led in turn to topless bars, topless districts, and topless ordinances. By the same token, a room that induces a particular emotion may be described as sad or cheerful without objection, and there seems to be no reason for drawing the line at calling it claustrophobic.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.claustrophobic - uncomfortably closed or hemmed in; "a claustrophobic little room"
confined - not free to move about
2.claustrophobic - suffering from claustrophobia; abnormally afraid of closed-in places
afraid - filled with fear or apprehension; "afraid even to turn his head"; "suddenly looked afraid"; "afraid for his life"; "afraid of snakes"; "afraid to ask questions"
Translations
claustrophobic [klɔːstrəˈfəubɪk] adjclaustrofóbico;
I feel claustrophobic → me entra claustrofobia
claustrophobic [klɔːstrəˈfəubɪk] adj [person] → claustrophobe; [place] → où l'on se sent claustrophobe
claustrophobic [klɔːstrəˈfəubɪk] adj (place, situation) → beengend;
(person);
to be/feel claustrophobic → Platzangst haben/bekommen
claustrophobic [klɔːstrəˈfəubɪk] adjclaustrofobico/a


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Claustrophobic readers may wince at Hurd's descriptions of spelunking, but they'll find the author's journeys a rare opportunity to explore the wild caves of the world.
The first-person point of view, which usually makes me want to shoot myself, is so vivid, dissociated, self-aware, and flat-out poetic in its description of day-to-day survival and transcendence that it verges on claustrophobic in its realization of setting, character, and plot.
In a crisp narrative lushly decorated with original photographs, she captures the spirit of Shackleton's merry band with an intimate, occasionally claustrophobic portrait of the untamed forces that raged against them.
 
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