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

Red Path, which world premiered at Locarno, revolves around a shepherd boy who is traumatized when his teenager cousin is beheaded by Islamic State terrorists in front of him. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2024

That way, the team could cut extraneous questions that obscured a client’s true vulnerability and could be traumatizing for a client to talk through unnecessarily. —Carly Stern, Vox, 6 Dec. 2024

Just getting to and from your car can put you in a near death experience and traumatize you for years. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2024

For many Israelis still traumatized by the Oct. 7 massacre, the concept is anathema as well. —Dina Kraft, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Oct. 2024

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-