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

Jordan, who escapes relatively unscathed, is at once cowed and traumatized yet committed to vengeance. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

But Jake is traumatized after losing his mother and has become a loner who struggles socially. — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026

But even more crucially, the experience doesn’t traumatize Fred, who recognizes that Wes was under someone else’s power—instead, the transformation traumatizes Wes himself. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026

Fortunately, little at the fair was lively enough to traumatize. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for traumatize

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

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-