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

Neighbors in the community were traumatized after a bloodied Mock allegedly emerged from the home, local outlets reported. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025

Macfadyen is diligent in his portrayal of an obviously unwell man, traumatized by his difficult childhood and never having received the proper care. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025

Schools want to protect students without traumatizing them, a balancing act that, as Snowflake found, is very difficult. —Alana Semuels, Time, 6 Nov. 2025

Families have been traumatized. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 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-