confined space
Cramped enclosed area
A confined space is an enclosed area with limited entry and exit—tanks, silos, tunnels, crawl spaces.
The term appears in workplace safety regulations, where confined spaces pose hazards from poor ventilation, toxic gases, or limited escape routes: Workers must have permits before entering a confined space.
Figuratively, any cramped or restrictive environment: The submarine felt like a confined space after three weeks.
- suffocatingDepriving of air
- enclosedSurrounded and sealed within
- tight squeezeSituation with minimal clearance
- manholeCovered underground entry
- claustrophobiaDread of enclosed areas
panic attack · narrow · no exit · air quality · entrapment · cubby · asphyxiation · crib · toxic gases · oxygen tank · prison cell · lockout-tagout · permit required · underground bunker · cramped · tunnel · boiler room · safety harness
- safetysafety helmet, hazard, airbag, alert, occupational safety
- imprisonmentprison, jail, prisoners, cells, captivity
- safety signswarning sign, warning signs, danger sign, caution sign, warning labels
- workplace safetyworkplace safety, PPE, safety standards, worker safety, goggles
- safety trainingsafety training, fire drills, safety courses, OSHA training, first aid
- firefightingfire station, fire truck, fire engine, firefighter, firefighters
confined spaceopen space
Unobstructed outdoor area
open field · open air · outdoors · expanse · open ground
confined spacefreedom
Absence of constraint
expansiveness · openness · spaciousness · roominess · breathing room
space, spacious, spaceship, confine, confined, spacing, confinement, spatial, unconfined