TRAUMATIC Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

traumatic

adjective

Definition of traumatic

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 Sharon Stone is opening up about a traumatic time in her life. — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026 Ruckrich recalled that Pontoriero was especially adept at interviewing women and children who had endured something traumatic. — David Mendell, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026 Responding officers found a pedestrian who had been hit and was suffering from traumatic injuries to his upper body. — Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 During an appearance on the Pod Meets World podcast in April 2026, Ali opened up about her traumatic birth experience with her first son, which resulted in a four-day NICU stay for her newborn. — Jenny Haward, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for traumatic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for traumatic

Adjective

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
By the time of the horrible accident in 1829, the deodand was on its way out.

— Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

The story follows Ramón, a film assistant reeling from a painful breakup, who begins working with Camille de Valois, a legendary French actress returning to cinema after two decades away following an accusation of murder.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Still, there are good reasons Trump may be holding back, not least to avoid opening a potentially painful second front, just seven months after launching his damaging and ongoing conflict with Iran.

— Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of painful

Adjective

Due to an overwhelming response on Day 1 that prevented many fans from casting ballots in the first round, Day 1 voting will continue to September 23.

— Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2026
Historic documents and artifacts help people remember their history, but keeping track of everything can be overwhelming, especially when the items come from an entire community.

— Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of overwhelming

Adjective

Up close, its elongated head, skeletal body and glistening double set of jaws reveal just how much unsettling detail goes into a creature often glimpsed onscreen in darkness.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Adrià describes a world filtered through adolescence, where people, places and situations can appear idealized, magical or unsettling.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of unsettling

Adjective

On Saturday in Orlando playing against a Central Florida team that was without its starting quarterback and three other starters, TCU was awful in a 21-13 loss in the Big 12 opener for both teams.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2026
Nicky Lopez, Brett Phillips, Tim Hill and Mike Moustakas spent stints in an awful 2024 season that saw the White Sox set an MLB record with 121 losses.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of awful

Adjective

Her unbearable grief drove her to drop out without warning, without notice, nothing.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026
The defining feature of Israeli apartheid is to make Palestinian life unbearable until our removal can be recorded as an act of free will.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of unbearable

Adjective

French President Emanuel Macron delivered a briefing to the candidates running to succeed him so disturbing that even the far-right National Rally’s leaders emerged denouncing Russian hybrid attacks.

— Ben Smith, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
The 72-year-old Cuban widow filed for temporary custody shortly after the disturbing incident.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Browse Nearby Words

trashy

traumatic

traumatically

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“Traumatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traumatic. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of traumatic

adjective

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