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

How to make denial visible without re-traumatizing viewers — or herself — became a central formal question. —Olga Garcia-Mayoral, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025

This was a horribly traumatizing thing for them. —Gail Zimmerman, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025

Some of us are still traumatized by that. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2025

On the other hand, families are the invisible victims of constant crisis, and peers are traumatized by losing others resulting in the tragic effects of untreated trauma. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 11 Dec. 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-