traumatize

[ trou-muh-tahyz, traw- ]

verb (used with object)

, trau·ma·tized, trau·ma·tiz·ing.

1. Pathology. to injure (tissues) by force or by thermal, chemical, etc., agents.
2. Psychiatry. to cause a trauma in (the mind):

   to be traumatized by a childhood experience.

traumatize

/ ˈtrɔːməˌtaɪz /

verb

1. tr to wound or injure (the body)
2. to subject or be subjected to mental trauma

Derived Forms

• ˌtraumatiˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• trauma·ti·zation noun
• un·trauma·tized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of traumatize¹

First recorded in 1900–05, traumatize is from the Greek word traumatízein to wound. See traumatic, -ize

Example Sentences

When the Taliban took over Kabul in 1996, the city’s infrastructure was battered and its population of several hundred thousand people, traumatized by a decade of civil war, had no expectation of government services or facilities.

From Vox

That could very likely change in the next several years, especially as memories of pandemic times are slowly wiped from our traumatized minds and our eagerness for exploring the world returns.

From Singularity Hub 

This never ending instability, combined with the constant fear of interacting with the police, losing custody of my children, having my car impounded — or even losing my life — left me stressed, traumatized and exhausted.

From Time

He says he’s traumatized by what happened, has nightmares and doesn’t get out much anymore.

From Washington Post

He was traumatized by the dark Nordic winters of his childhood and would overcompensate by doing all the things that dermatologists tell you not to do.

From Outside Online

The cable network had “lost its mind,” and was going to “traumatize channel surfers.”

From The Daily Beast

The “Crime of the Century” certainly did traumatize Lindbergh.

From The Daily Beast

It is also Palestinians who lob the rockets from Gaza that traumatize southern Israel.

From The Daily Beast

Christmas has always been neck and neck with Halloween for the title of Best Time to Traumatize Your Kids.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• disturb
• grieve
• hurt
• mortify
• offend
• outrage
• shock
• upset