traumatic

adjective

trau·​mat·​ic trə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce traumatic (audio)
trȯ-,
trau̇-
1
: psychologically or emotionally stressful in a way that can lead to serious mental and emotional problems
The report … revealed that the onset of bulimic behavior tends to be associated with voluntary dieting and with traumatic events such as the loss of a loved one.Ralph Heussner
He's been open and frank about his traumatic childhood scarred by violence and domestic abuse.Stephen Milton
broadly : causing distress or anxiety
The traumatic experience of the Wall Street crash and the long depression of the 1930s has gradually faded from memory … Jack Revell
The arrival of mass tourism in a previously unspoilt area … was certainly traumatic. Graham Robb
2
medical : relating to, being, or caused by a sudden, severe, often life-threatening injury to the body
… the lone medical centers in the Triad to treat victims of traumatic injuries such as life-threatening car wrecks or shootings.Pat Kimbrough
Three years ago, she was in a traumatic car crash that shattered her pelvis, and caused numerous other injuries.Brad Gillman
There have been reports of shrapnel causing a traumatic fistula between the right coronary artery and the right atrium.Matthias Eikermann et al.
also : involving or causing tissue damage or physical stress
The artery-dilating procedure, which uses a balloon or other device guided to the restricted artery by a cardiac catheter, is less invasive and traumatic than coronary artery bypass surgery. Andrew Skolnick
Open-heart surgery has become all but routine in recent years, although still physically traumatic. Ralph T. King, Jr.
see also chronic traumatic encephalopathy, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury
traumatically
trə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce traumatic (audio)
trȯ-
trau̇-
adverb

Examples of traumatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Princess Royal, 75, traveled there to show solidarity with the children and families living through the conflict and draw attention to the traumatic experiences of children living on the frontline. Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025 The fallen mogul’s trial was controversial and traumatic. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 30 Sep. 2025 Drill and drill adjacent artists like G Herbo and Lil Durk at time reflect the traumatic toll of the streets; artists like Chance and noname provide a sober-eyed view of the external fallout. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025 The practice is inherently traumatic, even when done completely within policy, the report noted. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for traumatic

Word History

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of traumatic was in 1650

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Cite this Entry

“Traumatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traumatic. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

traumatic

adjective
trau·​mat·​ic trə-ˈmat-ik, trȯ-, trau̇- How to pronounce traumatic (audio)
: of, relating to, resulting from, or causing a trauma
cases of traumatic ruptureThe Journal of the American Medical Association
a traumatic experience
traumatically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on traumatic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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