shell-shocked

adjective

ˈshel-ˌshäkt 

1

: affected with shell shock or combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder

She sometimes had psychoneurotic cases on board, shell-shocked men whose behavior could not be predicted.

—Doris Weatherford

Sassoon was familiar with such rough-and-ready treatment, part of which encouraged shell-shocked soldiers to repress their memories of the trenches, shake themselves out of their depression, and carry on manfully.

—Roger J. Spiller

2

: mentally confused, upset, or exhausted as a result of a highly stressful or disturbing and often unexpected event or experience

She was shell-shocked, reeling from her loss in Iowa and polls that showed her cratering in New Hampshire.

—Joe Klein

… shell-shocked consumers were pledging their allegiance to the "New Frugality." Chastened by the brutal lessons of the worst economic downturn in decades, Americans swore off conspicuous consumption and resolved to embrace the thrifty ways of their grandparents …

—Stefan Theil

Synonyms

• stressed
• stressed-out

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shell-shocked

adjective

ˈshel-ˌshäkt

1

: affected with shell shock

2

: mentally confused, upset, or exhausted as the result of being under too much stress

Medical Definition

shell-shocked

adjective

ˈshel-ˌshäkt 

: affected with combat fatigue