1. small, poorly ventilated rooms or spaces that become extremely hot and uncomfortable
Usage: informal
2. small, cramped detention cells or interrogation rooms designed to cause discomfort
Usage: informal

Examples

• The old apartment’s tiny bedrooms were sweatboxes during the summer heat wave.
• Without air conditioning, the factory floor became one of the worst sweatboxes in the city.
• The prisoners complained that their cells were sweatboxes with no proper ventilation.
• These cramped offices turn into sweatboxes when the heating system malfunctions.
• The detective led the suspect into one of the station’s notorious sweatboxes for questioning.
• During the power outage, our house felt like a collection of sweatboxes.