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

He was traumatized, and his neck and arm are still injured, the claim said. —Ryan Oehrli march 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2026

Or this man had seen this torture beforehand and was traumatized and relayed that? —Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026

The social worker said she is still traumatized by the afternoon attack. —Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026

Dan Monfre was searching for a way to match his skillset in marketing to the goal of fund raising for community members targeted and traumatized by the federal immigration raids this year. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026

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-