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

The boy's father told CBS News Miami his son will need seven to 10 stitches and is traumatized by the incident. —Abby Dodge, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025

Grande has not publicly commented on the situation but her fan base swiftly hit back at Wen's behavior and accused the influencer of re-traumatizing the singer, whose 2017 concert in Manchester, England, was disrupted by a terrorist attack that killed 22 attendees. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Nov. 2025

This album was so traumatizing for teenage Clash fanatics like me. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025

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

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-