Synonyms

PTSD

American

[pee-tee-es-dee] / ˈpiˈtiˈɛsˈdi /

abbreviation

post-traumatic stress disorder: a mental disorder occurring after an extremely distressing, stressful, or frightening event and characterized by symptoms such as reliving the event, avoidance of anything that is a reminder of the event, withdrawal from social interactions or previous activities, and an increase in feelings of anxiety, anger, sadness, shame, or guilt.

PTSD British

abbreviation

post-traumatic stress disorder

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Compare meaning

How does ptsd compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

shell shock vs. PTSD

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

PTSD

After years of managing J.’s practical needs and mercurial moods, Ms. Eubanks saw a therapist who diagnosed her with a moderate form of PTSD.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

His mother told me that when he was released from the service, he suffered from multiple disabilities, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

The team plans to conduct larger studies to verify the initial results and evaluate whether NEUSLeeP could help people with PTSD, depression and chronic insomnia.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026

Previous movie adaptations of “The Odyssey” soft-pedal or ignore the hero’s postwar PTSD.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Dad said she had post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023