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
The victims described traumatic experiences that left some with feelings of shame as well as physical side effects, ranging from pain and bleeding to serious infections.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
The extraordinary media interest in the case, which gripped Australia for much of the 10-week trial, had been traumatic for the family, Erin Patterson's estranged husband Simon Patterson - who was invited to the lunch but declined - said at the same hearing.
—Alasdair Pal, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Maddie is talented, warm, funny and kind but also anxious, plagued with low self-esteem cultivated by a traumatic childhood.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Sheriff’s deputies responded to an early morning disturbance call Saturday in Imperial Beach and discovered a man with traumatic injuries, who died despite lifesaving efforts.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for traumatic
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
The extraordinary media interest in the case, which gripped Australia for much of the 10-week trial, had been traumatic for the family, Erin Patterson's estranged husband Simon Patterson - who was invited to the lunch but declined - said at the same hearing.
—Alasdair Pal, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Maddie is talented, warm, funny and kind but also anxious, plagued with low self-esteem cultivated by a traumatic childhood.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Sheriff’s deputies responded to an early morning disturbance call Saturday in Imperial Beach and discovered a man with traumatic injuries, who died despite lifesaving efforts.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for traumatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traumatic
Adjective
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The horrible accident — later determined to be caused by pilot error — remains the deadliest plane crash in Charlotte history.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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But then came a horrible deep-ball attempt intended for Stefon Diggs that Isaiah Pola-Mao intercepted.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Now supposedly dying from some terminal illness, Julian has gone total hermit mode inside of his cluttered London apartment, where the walls are festooned with the relics of his success and the backrooms are a junk pile of painful memories.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
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Dig a little deeper by comparing your top three financial goals and sharing your most painful and joyous money memories.—
Mary Clements Evans,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Yes, there are so much terrible stuff online.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
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But that obviously terrible call compromised the integrity of that game last night, and that's something the sport should be looking to avoid.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Our brains evolve against friction, which means challenges that are difficult enough to promote growth but not so overwhelming as to cause surrender.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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The Collector’s Experience—Curated, Not Crowded Walking into a luxury watch boutique can feel overwhelming.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This may be subtle but often unsettling in nature.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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For a story that could be this dark, what a gift to be able to recount some of these things, but with a tone that doesn’t need to be wildly investigative and uncomfortable and unsettling.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But one other thing Reclaim does is show just how awful the Portal system is.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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How the Dolphins grow from such an awful performance will be paramount.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Spending will continue to increase and the debt burden—already unbearable—will grow heavier and more costly.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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Spending will continue to increase and the debt burden — already unbearable — will grow heavier and more costly.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Fortunately, there are straightforward ways to reduce your chances of being confronted with violent or disturbing videos.—
Annie Margaret,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
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Celebrating the assassination of a 31 year old father of two young kids is disturbing; that teachers would be among those who do so is completely unacceptable.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Traumatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traumatic. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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