combat fatigue

noun

: post-traumatic stress disorder occurring under wartime conditions (such as combat) that cause intense stress : battle fatigue, shell shock

Nearly a half-million American soldiers were battle casualties during the fighting in Europe; by 1945 another 111,000 neuropsychiatric cases—then usually called combat fatigue—had been treated.

—Roger J. Spiller

The psychological strain he continues to endure has had many names over the years. In World War I, it was shell shock. In World War II, it was combat fatigue …

—Steven Lee Meyers

Examples of combat fatigue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Exercise releases endorphins, helping to combat fatigue and improve mood, while also giving you a sense of control over your body. —Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 30 Sep. 2024

This motion can prevent issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome in your wrists, plus combat fatigue in the legs, Dooreck said. —Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 3 Sep. 2024

Caffeine helps combat fatigue and improve mental alertness, energizing you for the day ahead. —Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 12 Aug. 2024

Prioritize good sleep to help combat fatigue and mood swings, says Tan. —Christin Perry, Parents, 22 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

combat fatigue

noun

com·​bat fatigue ˈkäm-ˌbat- 

: post-traumatic stress disorder occurring under wartime conditions (as combat) that cause intense stress

called also battle fatigue, shell shock, war neurosis