traumatic

adjective

Definition of traumaticnext
as in horrible
causing great and lasting pain or distress The family struggled to cope with the traumatic experience of losing their home.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of traumatic Pike Vs Tennessee, Pike discusses the killing, her traumatic childhood and her fear as her execution approaches. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 Leigh suspected that growing up in Scientology had been traumatic for Beck. — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026 Michael Darby’s daughter Alison Boddicker also spoke from the witness stand, saying the loss of her father was traumatic. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026 Survivors may experience complete or partial loss of memory due to the traumatic events. — ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for traumatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traumatic
  1. horrible
  2. painful
  3. terrible
  4. overwhelming
  5. unsettling
  6. awful
  7. unbearable
  8. disturbing
Adjective
  • At its worst, cognitive impairment can be a horrible, life-altering disease for patient and loved ones.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Doubs had a horrible debut in the league’s season opener last week against the Seattle Seahawks.
    — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • After the Great Depression, school districts revisited the idea during the energy crisis of the 1970s, following the 1973 Arab oil embargo and the painful years of stagflation that followed.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Continue reading … -- IN OTHER NEWS HIDDEN ILLNESS — Country star reveals the painful symptom that led to cancer diagnosis.
    — , FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • In any case, the nation’s approach toward Europe was not to meddle in its internal affairs but, rather, to avoid another terrible Continental war.
    — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Offensive lineman Steve Avila was a member of the 2024 Rams team that turned it around after a terrible start.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Barrera has the overwhelming advantage in independent expenditures — spending by outside groups on behalf of political candidates.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Therefore, Perriello needs overwhelming margins in Charlottesville while cutting into Republican advantages elsewhere.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of overwhelming
Adjective
  • The bill is coming due just as Volkswagen faces an unsettling commercial fact.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The whole unsettling scene was made far worse by Stephens’ reaction in the immediate aftermath of the hit.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • He was held back by something else, a feeling that some awful truth about his familiar, beloved world was now being revealed to him.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • His death was already sudden and awful, and the call was jarring and unexpected.
    — Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • Another independent doctor subsequently concluded that the child's suffering was clear and unbearable, and that the requirements for termination of life under the nation's rules had been met.
    — Inaya Folarin Iman, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Her unbearable grief drove her to drop out without warning, without notice, nothing.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of unbearable
Adjective
  • While working at the Crawford home, Lowen discovers a secret manuscript containing Verity’s apparent autobiographical notes, raising disturbing questions about her past and sending her spiraling over what to believe.
    — Michaela Zee, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The development, announced Wednesday, is the latest turn in a disturbing player-health controversy that could lead to legal action.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of disturbing

Browse Nearby Words

trashy
traumatic
traumatically
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Traumatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traumatic. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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