traumatic

[truh-mat-ik, traw-, trou-]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or produced by a trauma or wound.

2. adapted to the cure of wounds.

3. psychologically painful.

Other Word Forms

• traumatically adverb
• untraumatic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of traumatic¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Late Latin traumaticus, from Greek traumatikós “pertaining to wounds,” from traumat- (stem of traûma trauma ) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

“Tara is recovering and asks for privacy during this traumatic time,” the rep said in a statement published by E!

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The resurgence of that storyline may have been a surprise for viewers who thought Peggy had put her traumatic past behind her in Season 2.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Caitlyn is one of half a dozen women who shared their traumatic, and often bizarre, experiences with one of Scotland's most prolific romance fraudsters in new BBC Disclosure podcast: Matched with a Predator.

Read more on BBC

The first kidnapping in Iraq was only a day, and it was very traumatic, but it was fine.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“You’re growing a baby for nine to 10 months, and all of a sudden for them to be separated from your heart, from your presence, from your smell, can be traumatic,” she said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• awful 
• chilling 
• disquieting 
• dreadful 
• eerie 
• ghastly 
• grim 
• grisly 
• hair-raising 
• hellish 
• horrible 
• horrid 
• horrifying 
• macabre 
• scary 
• spooky 
• terrible 
• terrifying