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 In recent years, Panettiere had been candid about her traumatic childbirth and postpartum depression, as well as her struggles with addiction. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026 The death of an incarcerated individual is traumatic for all involved. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 Jones will play Gabby Clemente, a New Haven bartender and student teacher whose life is upended by her traumatic egg retrieval surgery. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026 In 2021, there was one trauma patient who suffered an e-bike injury, but in 2025, that number skyrocketed to 201 children admitted with traumatic injuries at Rady Children's Hospital. — Michele Gile, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for traumatic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for traumatic

Adjective

Whatever cloud of innocence has hung over Jo’s life until this point is shattered, both parents struggling how to navigate the horrible experience from an emotional as well as a purely bureaucratic perspective.

— Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
After years of seeing enough photos of fabulous wealth and horrible tragedy, these types of images cease to shock us.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

Every defendant has the right to appeal, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the Metcalf family in the painful wake of last week's hearing.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
The 55-year-old previously missed several weeks of the talk show amid recovery from painful gum surgery.

— Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of painful

Adjective

The ruling pro-presidential Adilet party is widely predicted to win an overwhelming majority, with several smaller parties loyal to Tokayev also anticipated to enter parliament.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Arsenal go into the season as overwhelming favourites for the title, despite frequent criticism of Arteta's cautious approach and their playing style.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of overwhelming

Adjective

The film follows Niaz (Bakhtadze), a once-famous star of Georgian cinema who embarks on a bizarre and fatalistic odyssey of self-transformation, after an unsettling audition with a young female director looking to cast him in a minor part.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Learning from the doctor that your cholesterol levels are higher than recommended can be an unsettling wake-up call.

— Gavin Escott, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsettling

Adjective

But that team’s awful 2026 season meant any shock switch was a non-starter.

— Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Kavulich believes that at some point, the situation is going to turn so awful that either Cuban leaders will be forced to change, or the United States will intervene.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of awful

Adjective

That pertness should be unbearable, but the scene is written in a minor key and performed by both actors to match, favouring eye contact and murmurs; the sheer brevity prevents it from becoming gloopy or crass.

— Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
The pollen is back, the weather is unbearable and the leaves are threatening to do something.

— Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of unbearable

Adjective

The disturbing incident comes amidst a sharp increase in both felony and misdemeanor assaults in the subway system.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
The story follows a husband and wife who buy their dream ranch only to discover the land is alive with ancient spirits, and survival means submitting to increasingly disturbing rituals with each turn of the season.

— Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 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 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of traumatic

adjective

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