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

Grevelding added that his niece is still traumatized from the incident. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2026

The city is still dealing with the fallout of a federal immigration surge, which traumatized the community, depleted the local economy and killed two of the city's residents. — Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

And despite unexpectedly finding a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth on the end of his line, Seamus doesn't appear traumatized in the slightest. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Like many, Salinger emerged from the war severely traumatized. — Literary Hub, 10 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-