traumatize

verb

trau·​ma·​tize ˈtrȯ-mə-ˌtīz How to pronounce traumatize (audio)
also
ˈtrau̇- How to pronounce traumatize (audio)
traumatized; traumatizing

transitive verb

: to inflict a trauma upon
traumatization noun

Examples of traumatize in a Sentence

He was traumatized by the experience.
Recent Examples on the Web Enraged and traumatized by the Hamas attacks, most Israelis want Gaza destroyed. Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024 Those moments do arrive, confidently, in ways that fans will tick off approvingly without ever being wholly traumatized by. Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024 But when his father (Adam Jacobs) returns after several years in a prisoner-of-war camp, and kills the lover that his mother (Alison Luff) has acquired in the meantime, the boy is traumatized. Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024 If traumatized, the bursa can fill with fluid, which can limit motion and cause pain. Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024 Nadia Khan-Roberts, the mother of one of the victims, told NBC Miami in December that for all of the families whose children were victimized the incident was traumatizing. Caroline Haskins, WIRED, 8 Mar. 2024 People are hungry, exhausted and traumatized, Khodr said. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 Israelis, deeply traumatized by Hamas' attack, have broadly backed the war effort as an act of self-defense, even as global opposition to the fighting has increased. Tia Goldenberg, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2024 So was Maurice Sendak, though Mr. Sendak said that for years he was traumatized by Babar’s origin story: the brutal murder of his mother by a hunter. Penelope Green, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'traumatize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of traumatize was in 1903

Dictionary Entries Near traumatize

Cite this Entry

“Traumatize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traumatize. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

traumatize

verb
trau·​ma·​tize ˈtrau̇-mə-ˌtīz How to pronounce traumatize (audio)
ˈtrȯ-
traumatized; traumatizing
: to inflict trauma upon
was traumatized by the accident

Medical Definition

traumatize

transitive verb
trau·​ma·​tize
variants also British traumatise
traumatized also British traumatised; traumatizing also British traumatising
: to inflict a trauma upon
traumatized tissues
children traumatized by physical abuse
traumatization noun
also British traumatisation

More from Merriam-Webster on traumatize

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