shock therapy

noun

: the treatment of mental illness by the artificial induction of coma or convulsions through use of drugs or electric current

called also shock treatment

Examples of shock therapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Arnett also admitted that his co-host woke up an hour later to use the bathroom and had to drive himself back to the hospital for a second time for another round of shock therapy to get his heart back to a regular rhythm. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024 Molotov tries shock therapy At execution, a good rock-metal group can puncture the escapist flow of festival life. Vicky Camarillo, Austin American-Statesman, 3 Mar. 2024 Realistically, unless the world is ready to endure the shock therapy of rationing energy supplies, which would curtail economic activity radically, there are no viable short-to-medium term alternatives to Western fossil fuel products other than fossil fuel products produced elsewhere. Dan Ikenson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 The ill effects of austerity measures Some countries in recent economic history which underwent shock therapy suffered for years. Ron Insana, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shock therapy 

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shock therapy was in 1917

Dictionary Entries Near shock therapy

Cite this Entry

“Shock therapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shock%20therapy. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

shock therapy

noun
: the treatment of mental illness by the artificial induction of coma or convulsions through use of drugs or electric current

called also convulsive therapy

see electroconvulsive therapy

More from Merriam-Webster on shock therapy

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