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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 Some people go through traumatic events and tend to either emulate the behavior later in life or avoid it and go in the opposite direction. — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 27 July 2026 Despite the traumatic experience, this past Fourth of July weekend, the Sniders got back on the Sea-Doos. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026 Brand New Day will see Holland’s young hero embarking on a fresh start after the traumatic events of No Way Home — a pursuit that will be interrupted by a mysterious figure who has the ability to take over other people’s bodies. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 26 July 2026 The woman said she’s struggled with anxiety and nightmares ever since and has been diagnosed with post- traumatic stress disorder. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for traumatic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for traumatic

Adjective

The Badgers have had horrible injury luck, which has led to bad QB play the past few years.

— Antonio Morales, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Aemond raves about his horrible older brother who spent their youth tormenting him.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

In a series of video interludes that break up the performance into acts, Grande plays Peaches, a woman who wants to undergo a procedure to erase her painful memories.

— Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
But any movement that engages her core muscles — bending, turning, stretching — is painful and debilitating.

— Daniela Suarez, NBC news, 31 July 2026

Definition of painful

Adjective

It was reintroduced as a Winter Classic uniform in 2017, and the response was so overwhelming that the organization brought it back on a full-time basis in 2025-26.

— The Athletic NHL Staff, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Alternatively, if Infantino could secure a Yes from every country that has never played in a single men’s World Cup, this plan would pass in overwhelming fashion.

— Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of overwhelming

Adjective

The image could be a still from a film about an alien invasion, although the ominous light almost makes the figures seem like cinemagoers transfixed by something unsettling playing out onscreen.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
The Houthi threat is so unsettling to oil markets because millions of barrels per day pass through the Bab el-Mandeb strait to reach global markets.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 23 July 2026

Definition of unsettling

Adjective

The optics of continuing to play a seven-day tournament for roughly $4 million in prize money at the same event where men were playing across 12 days for up to $12 million would have been awful.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 July 2026
From Jeffrey’s team, Chloe’s remade dress, with an off-the-shoulder top and an awful mesh corset patch tied with a blue ribbon, is universally hated by the judges.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 July 2026

Definition of awful

Adjective

In a handwritten criminal complaint, Patty’s ex-wife described a disturbing physical altercation that allegedly left her with a swollen arm, neck pain and a bump on her head.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
The 1981 film revolves around a woman who begins exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior after asking her husband for a divorce.

— Justin Kroll, Deadline, 29 July 2026

Definition of disturbing

Browse Nearby Words

trashy

traumatic

traumatically

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Traumatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traumatic. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of traumatic

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on traumatic

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

mitigate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes