shock therapy

Definition of shock therapy

: the treatment of mental illness by the artificial induction of coma or convulsions through use of drugs or electric current

— called also shock treatment

Examples of shock therapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Along with his sullen young assistant, Fiennes visits the asylums of the West Coast performing lobotomies and electric shock therapy. — Los Angeles Times, "Classic Hollywood: Jeff Goldblum’s long, strange Hollywood journey," 25 July 2019 Since rising to power last year after months of political violence, Mr. Ahmed, a former intelligence officer has sought to deliver shock therapy to one of the world’s most entrenched one-party systems. — Joe Parkinson, WSJ, "Ethiopia, in the Midst of a Political Crisis, Foils Coup Attempt," 23 June 2019 The Perfection Years of shaving her head for shock therapy can do quite a number on a gal’s hair. — Joey Nolfi, EW.com, "The best wig reveals of 2019 so far," 24 June 2019 In this strategically vital nation of 100 million, a charismatic young leader is delivering shock therapy to one of the world’s most entrenched one-party systems. — Matina Stevis-gridneff, WSJ, "Ethiopia’s Young, New Leader Shakes Up One-Party System," 17 July 2018 Hamilton, who lives in Central Pennsylvania, was admitted to the mental health unit of her local hospital, and after a few days she was transferred to Geisinger Medical Center, where she was given 12 electro-shock therapy treatments. — Devin Tomb, Good Housekeeping, "“At 54, I Don’t Feel As Hopeful”: The Untold Story of Suicide in the U.S.," 21 Sep. 2018 Hard to believe now, but Russia’s leadership wanted to use shock therapy after the collapse of the Soviet Union to create a market economy and align closely with the West. — Jon Talton, The Seattle Times, "‘It’s the economy, stupid,’ and the bad luck of George H.W. Bush," 4 Dec. 2018 This gradualist recipe, intended to avoid the upheaval of past economic shock therapies, relied heavily on fresh credit to plug the deficit. — Ryan Dube, WSJ, "‘Gradualism Is Dead’: Argentina Faces Pressure to Hasten Economic Overhaul," 29 May 2018 Ryan’s original 2008 Roadmap for America’s Future, his first budget plan, was a prescription for libertarian shock therapy applied to basically the entire federal government. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "Paul Ryan paved the way for Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party," 11 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shock therapy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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The first known use of shock therapy was in 1917

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More Definitions for shock therapy

shock therapy

noun

English Language Learners Definition of shock therapy

: a treatment for mental illness in which the patient is given electric shocks

See the full definition for shock therapy in the English Language Learners Dictionary

shock therapy

Medical Definition of shock therapy

: the treatment of mental illness by the artificial induction of coma or convulsions through use of drugs or electric current

— called also convulsive therapy

— see electroconvulsive therapy

WORD OF THE DAY

incongruous

not being in agreement or harmony

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