traumatize
verb
trau·ma·tize
ˈtrȯ-mə-ˌtīz 
also
ˈtrau̇-
traumatized; traumatizing
: to inflict a trauma upon
Examples of traumatize in a Sentence
He was traumatized by the experience.
Recent Examples on the Web
One brother was getting married; the other, traumatized by his stint in Vietnam, announced that God had told him to become a Mormon.
—
Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Speakers said the aggressive tactics of federal agents have traumatized people in Chicago, Minneapolis, and elsewhere.
—Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
The shooter spent much of that time unchallenged in the two connected classrooms, amid dead, dying and traumatized children and adults.
—Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
After her rescue, Robinson arrived at an Animals Asia sanctuary in Vietnam traumatized and injured, missing part of her front paw and most of her hind paw, which rescuers believe is from her being snared and captured as a cub.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traumatize
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Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Speakers said the aggressive tactics of federal agents have traumatized people in Chicago, Minneapolis, and elsewhere.
—Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
The shooter spent much of that time unchallenged in the two connected classrooms, amid dead, dying and traumatized children and adults.
—Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
After her rescue, Robinson arrived at an Animals Asia sanctuary in Vietnam traumatized and injured, missing part of her front paw and most of her hind paw, which rescuers believe is from her being snared and captured as a cub.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traumatize
Cite this Entry
“Traumatize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traumatize. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
traumatized also British traumatised; traumatizing also British traumatising
: to inflict a trauma upon
traumatized tissues
children traumatized by physical abuse
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