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

He had said it was how he had healed his PTSD.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

Navy warrant officer who served for decades, including in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Austins told the local news station, adding that in his final days he struggled with PTSD.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

I know a lot of buyers claim to have CVT-induced PTSD.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

She added that for her son, life "without a dad who was involved in everything you did is a hard adjustment" and it "carried an element of PTSD".

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

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

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

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