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
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Recent Examples of traumatic
Jeremiah Tilford, a 19-year-old Caldwell resident, died of traumatic blunt-force injuries, according to a release from the coroner’s office.
—
Idaho Statesman, 5 Sep. 2025
Social media can expose them to misinformation, traumatic content or predatory behavior disguised as support.
—Laura Schwab Reese, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
Nali and Bruce both had traumatic pasts.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Verónica and Jamila are now lovers, trying to rebuild their lives far from the traumatic past.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for traumatic
Idaho Statesman, 5 Sep. 2025
Social media can expose them to misinformation, traumatic content or predatory behavior disguised as support.
—Laura Schwab Reese, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
Nali and Bruce both had traumatic pasts.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Verónica and Jamila are now lovers, trying to rebuild their lives far from the traumatic past.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for traumatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traumatic
Adjective
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But that spring, my mental health wasn’t in a good place thanks to the volatile combination of two years of pandemic lockdown, switching my antidepressants, my undiagnosed ADHD and a horrible case of writer's block.—
Alison Cochrun,
People.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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The Succession Wars took a much darker turn thanks to the development of not just Battlemechs but of horrible flesh and steel monsters called abominations.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The shoes have a wide toe box with plenty of room for feet to spread out, which helps prevent painful pinching and accommodates foot issues.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Downplaying the obvious and searingly painful crime plaguing Chicago neighborhoods is unacceptable and dangerous.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Overall, this wasn’t a terrible episode, but having our heroes start in the UK and then end up in Spain in the first episode felt rushed and wasteful.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Both men are good, both men are bad and both men have made terrible mistakes.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The legislation passed through the Nevada State Assembly and Senate with overwhelming support from Democratic leadership and was signed into law by Republican Governor Joe Lombardo.—
Erica Mosca,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The Jaron feels very generous but not overwhelming.—
Zoë Sessums,
Architectural Digest,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In turn, chickens have become a powerful — if not somewhat unsettling — example of how acutely humans can dictate the evolutionary destiny of other species.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Having previously allowed Alessia Russo, Ona Batlle and Mary Earps to run their contracts into the final stages — a situation the club say was unsettling for the squad — United were determined not to make the same error.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But for the rest of us mere mortals, the idea of stepping into an ice bath for 10 minutes a day is awful.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Sep. 2025
-
And then these families are in this awful position.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
The Enquirer,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
That's depicted in a disturbing, if somewhat inscrutable, scene.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
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Possibly, something disturbing will occur because someone has decided to make emotional demands on you.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Traumatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traumatic. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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