traumatize

verb

trau·​ma·​tize ˈtrȯ-mə-ˌtīz 

also

ˈtrau̇- 

traumatized; traumatizing

transitive verb

: to inflict a trauma upon

traumatization

ˌtrȯ-mə-tə-ˈzā-shən 

also

ˌtrau̇- 

noun

Examples of traumatize in a Sentence

He was traumatized by the experience.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is quite a breakthrough in the case, which gripped the nation and traumatized the city of Austin. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025

The screen legend stars in the movie as a horse trainer named Tom Booker, who is hired to help Johansson's character Grace and her horse Pilgrim recover from a near-death accident that leaves both the young girl and horse traumatized. —Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025

Modern retrospectives on the series often come from those who were traumatized by it as children. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025

Though the program is small, people from all over the country who have been traumatized in some way by the war are invited. —Claire Harbage, NPR, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for traumatize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

traumatize

verb

trau·​ma·​tize ˈtrau̇-mə-ˌtīz 

ˈtrȯ-

traumatized; traumatizing

: to inflict trauma upon

was traumatized by the accident

Medical Definition

traumatize

transitive verb

trau·​ma·​tize

variants also British traumatise

-ˌtīz 

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

ˌtrȯ-mət-ə-ˈzā-shən  ˌtrau̇-