traumatize

verb

trau·​ma·​tize ˈtrȯ-mə-ˌtīz 

also

ˈtrau̇- 

traumatized; traumatizing

transitive verb

: to inflict a trauma upon

traumatization

ˌtrȯ-mə-tə-ˈzā-shən 

also

ˌtrau̇- 

noun

Examples of traumatize in a Sentence

He was traumatized by the experience.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, traumatized Israel’s people and led to a protracted and deadly war in Gaza. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2025

Johnson admits at first, his goal was to get his family, so traumatized by that crash, back on snow. —Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2025

Nearly 50,000 Palestinians are dead because of Israeli military operations, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and many more are injured and traumatized. —Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025

Yet at the same time, the city has been traumatized and people need space to grieve, too. —Janna A. Zanzi, AFAR Media, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

traumatize

verb

trau·​ma·​tize ˈtrau̇-mə-ˌtīz 

ˈtrȯ-

traumatized; traumatizing

: to inflict trauma upon

was traumatized by the accident

Medical Definition

traumatize

transitive verb

trau·​ma·​tize

variants also British traumatise

-ˌtīz 

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

ˌtrȯ-mət-ə-ˈzā-shən  ˌtrau̇-