traumatize

verb

trau·​ma·​tize ˈtrȯ-mə-ˌtīz How to pronounce traumatize (audio)
also
ˈtrau̇- How to pronounce traumatize (audio)
traumatized; traumatizing

transitive verb

: to inflict a trauma upon
traumatization noun

Examples of traumatize in a Sentence

He was traumatized by the experience.
Recent Examples on the Web Youths were traumatized too, forced to urinate in their locked rooms because no one was around to let them out. Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 The movement to bar U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) personnel from the classrooms came after members of Latinos En Spokane, an advocacy group that supports the Latino community, said that immigrants seeing Border Patrol agents in their school could be traumatizing. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2024 The current war and decades of conflict have traumatized generations of Palestinians and Israelis. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024 Jackson was unharmed, but the incident left him traumatized. Katherine Itoh, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2024 Palestinians have been oppressed, isolated and traumatized in a war that Israel has long been waging before this latest declaration. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2024 Bruce recalled being traumatized as the family house emptied out. Penelope Green, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 But thanks to the internet, Elmo is now traumatized after bearing the weight of the world’s problems on his little red shoulders. Michael Sykes, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Israel, traumatized by what was the single deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust, has destroyed much of Gaza, killed tens of thousands of civilians and sparked a staggering humanitarian crisis that may only get worse. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'traumatize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of traumatize was in 1903

Dictionary Entries Near traumatize

Cite this Entry

“Traumatize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traumatize. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

traumatize

verb
trau·​ma·​tize ˈtrau̇-mə-ˌtīz How to pronounce traumatize (audio)
ˈtrȯ-
traumatized; traumatizing
: to inflict trauma upon
was traumatized by the accident

Medical Definition

traumatize

transitive verb
trau·​ma·​tize
variants also British traumatise
traumatized also British traumatised; traumatizing also British traumatising
: to inflict a trauma upon
traumatized tissues
children traumatized by physical abuse
traumatization noun
also British traumatisation

More from Merriam-Webster on traumatize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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