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 The Nyad star told PEOPLE in June 2024 that the moment was a traumatic one for her. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026 Billy’s experience having sex for the first time lies somewhere on the spectrum between traumatic and disappointing. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026 After a disastrous road trip and traumatic trade deadline, Washington earned a feel-good victory. — Noah White, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2026 Rhys gets to play Mayor Tom’s traumatic reactions to being stalked by a Sea Hag to great effect both comedically and horrifically. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for traumatic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for traumatic

Adjective

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
But the horrible jobs data suggests the central bank may have to think about weakening consumer spending as well.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

His last appearance came in the AFC Championship Game, a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots that ended with a few painful what-ifs hanging in the air for him and the Broncos.

— Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Your husband’s abandonment was surely jarring, painful, and confusing.

— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of painful

Adjective

That Crowley came from behind to win was a testament to Evers’ grit and determination to keep the nomination from Hong, whom Evers said was unlikely to win in November, and to how terrible of a campaigner Hong turned out to be in the home stretch.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Although the Constitution requires congressional involvement in war-making, Trump like Nixon disdained that mandate with terrible consequences.

— Elizabeth Holtzman, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrible

Adjective

The stakes feel enormous while the philanthropic landscape feels overwhelming.

— Nick Allardice, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
To an outsider who isn’t used to this tempo, city life can feel overwhelming and a lack of human connection can lead to loneliness against this massive concrete backdrop.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of overwhelming

Adjective

The script is generally funny and romantic but can also get unsettling.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
Set against the remote, insular world of its titular island, production designer Steve Arnold and set decorator Jennifer Engel created a lived-in, slightly stuck in time and, when necessary, deeply unsettling environment.

— Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsettling

Adjective

The disease still makes lots of people feel awful for a week or two, foiling their summer vacations and forcing them to miss work and school.

— Rob Stein, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
Singing in the shower, gardening, baking, and writing poetry (yes, even awful poetry) are all good options.

— Laura Bradley, HEALTH, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of awful

Adjective

Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe are fearless in Robert Eggers’s black-and-white nightmare about two people who learn that nothing is scarier than being trapped with someone unbearable.

— Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2026
For nearly two months, families in Boyle Heights have lived with unbearable odors, flies and pests, truck traffic, uncertainty, and disruption to their homes, businesses, and daily lives.

— City News Service, Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of unbearable

Adjective

But no one can ignore the reality that New York has experienced a disturbing rise in antisemitic attacks.

— Simcha Itzkowitz, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
For people who live just steps from the home where the gun violence erupted, the incident was both disturbing and unsettling.

— Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 12 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 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of traumatic

adjective

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