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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Recent Examples of traumatic
But some Americans, already beset with traumatic news amid deep political divisions at home and the wars in Iran and Ukraine, might choose to look away, partly to protect their own mental health.
—
Makenzie Boucher, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The hashtag ‘alpine divorce’ has exploded on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram in recent months, with many women sharing traumatic, sometimes life-threatening experiences.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
After retiring at age 30 following the 1966 season because of traumatic arthritis in his pitching elbow, Koufax became the youngest player inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
The emblematic events of the 1960s—demands to end the Vietnam War, equally vociferous demands for racial equity, a growing embrace among the young of their power as agents of change—often originated or found dramatic (even traumatic) expression on campus.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traumatic
Makenzie Boucher, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The hashtag ‘alpine divorce’ has exploded on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram in recent months, with many women sharing traumatic, sometimes life-threatening experiences.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
After retiring at age 30 following the 1966 season because of traumatic arthritis in his pitching elbow, Koufax became the youngest player inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
The emblematic events of the 1960s—demands to end the Vietnam War, equally vociferous demands for racial equity, a growing embrace among the young of their power as agents of change—often originated or found dramatic (even traumatic) expression on campus.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traumatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traumatic
Adjective
-
Your cab driver is taking you on a horrible route.—
Zach Schiffman,
Curbed,
24 Apr. 2026
-
There’s enough cop shows, stories about how horrible the world is, enough plot lines that are similar to each other.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Every labored breath and painful cough is a reminder that their parents did everything right and relied on the immunity of those around them.—
Sarah Marsicek,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Bruins’ have suffered more dramatically painful losses on home ice in recent memory.—
Stephen Conroy,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The delay seemed to Silva like one more indignity in a terrible series of events that began with her husband’s death in 2024.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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The logic here is peak modern NBA, and the league wants to make being slightly below average more rewarding than being truly terrible.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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With overwhelming bipartisan support, Indiana enacted one of the most comprehensive state-level national security laws in the country.—
Joe Gebbia Sr,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The overwhelming consensus among economists is that the Federal Open Market Committee, or FOMC, will hold rates steady.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Still, things are unsettling here.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
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But the intention is to create a new generation of horror films that draw from the unsettling power, psychological intensity, and cinematic ambition that made J-horror a defining force in global genre filmmaking.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Their banter is empty because outside the season’s premiere, The Boys hasn’t actually shown us this awful America, and how everyone within it, including celebrities, are at risk.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
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This state has had some awful governors, but none in modern times ever attempted anything so repugnant as exposing more children to deadly diseases, as DeSantis has.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals, citing the unbearable intrusions of the British press and a lack of support from the palace.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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The pressure was enormous, overwhelming, and unbearable at times.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Angels fans who had regained some faith in Yusei Kikuchi after last weekend’s encouraging start could only watch with frustration as all of that was wiped away in one disturbing inning.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
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Most disturbing about the Game 3 blowout was not the who, but the how.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Traumatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traumatic. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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