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
For younger Japanese Americans, many of them descendants of those incarcerated, the echoes of a traumatic family history resonate today.
—
Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
The experience of not being able to go outside during the pandemic was traumatic, Shana Long said.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately, traumatic stress that develops while observing and listening to traumatized students has not been widely publicized and often is confused with burnout.
—Bruce Plopper, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
The experience, however, was traumatic, leaving her emotionally scarred and fearing for her safety.
—Mark Lamster
architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traumatic
Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
The experience of not being able to go outside during the pandemic was traumatic, Shana Long said.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately, traumatic stress that develops while observing and listening to traumatized students has not been widely publicized and often is confused with burnout.
—Bruce Plopper, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
The experience, however, was traumatic, leaving her emotionally scarred and fearing for her safety.
—Mark Lamster
architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traumatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traumatic
Adjective
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And for the next year its law enforcement members were hailed as heroes for their efforts that prevented a horrible situation from becoming even worse.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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There’s nary a crease to be seen in Bina Daigeler’s costumes, all covetable, unapproachable and tailored to the gods; Matthew Herbert’s score may be among the lushest ever slathered over such horrible goings-on.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Four years later, at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, Gabrielle Daleman could only bury her face in her hands after the Canadian’s disappointing free skate, her painful reaction beamed to a global audience.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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As painful as this pain deep in the heart is, the healing has already begun with all the outpouring of love, prayers, and support.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The question was about the student section’s harassment of former Spartan Xavier Booker, which seemed like a legitimate query considering Booker had a terrible game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The move was expected because Hill, who played for the Chiefs from 2016-‘21 before being traded to the Dolphins, is recovering from a terrible knee injury.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Iran used overwhelming force against the protesters to clear people out of the streets, but also to buy the government time by preventing any future waves of unrest, said Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, a Washington think tank.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
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Another warning sign that often flies under the radar is profound fatigue—an overwhelming tiredness that doesn’t go away with rest (something that many of us are quick to dismiss).—
Jennifer Shanker,
Flow Space,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Still, that didn’t make the lore of Savannah any less bizarre, unsettling and riveting.—
Adam Kuehl,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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But Duvall works on a different frequency, making the corporate machinery of the network feel even more unsettling than the chaos on camera.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And not this awful thing that happens again.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
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The Padres were mostly woeful for a decade before Preller’s arrival and wholly awful the first five seasons under his direction.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Or if your hot flashes are unbearable, your provider might tinker with your dosage.—
Bonnie Vengrow,
Flow Space,
6 Feb. 2026
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Winds will be out of the north to north-northwest at 5 to 10 mph, so wind-chills shouldn't be unbearable.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But the extent of our housing affordability crisis is more disturbing than ever before.—
Margi Glavovic Nothard,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
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Beginning with a montage of news footage from the day — the notorious May 1985 European Cup final between Italian club Juventus and English rivals Liverpool — the film’s open text informs viewers, or rather warns them, that disturbing historical images may follow.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Traumatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traumatic. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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