traumatic
adjective
trau·mat·ic
trə-ˈma-tik 
trȯ-,
trau̇-
1
: psychologically or emotionally stressful in a way that can lead to serious mental and emotional problems
The report … revealed that the onset of bulimic behavior tends to be associated with voluntary dieting and with traumatic events such as the loss of a loved one.—
Ralph Heussner
Ralph HeussnerHe's been open and frank about his traumatic childhood scarred by violence and domestic abuse.—Stephen Milton
Stephen Milton
broadly
: causing distress or anxiety
The traumatic experience of the Wall Street crash and the long depression of the 1930s has gradually faded from memory … —Jack Revell
Jack Revell The arrival of mass tourism in a previously unspoilt area … was certainly traumatic. —Graham Robb
Graham Robb 2
medical
: relating to, being, or caused by a sudden, severe, often life-threatening injury to the body
… the lone medical centers in the Triad to treat victims of traumatic injuries such as life-threatening car wrecks or shootings.—Pat Kimbrough
Pat KimbroughThree years ago, she was in a traumatic car crash that shattered her pelvis, and caused numerous other injuries.—Brad Gillman
Brad GillmanThere have been reports of shrapnel causing a traumatic fistula between the right coronary artery and the right atrium.—Matthias Eikermann et al.
Matthias Eikermann et al.
also
: involving or causing tissue damage or physical stress
The artery-dilating procedure, which uses a balloon or other device guided to the restricted artery by a cardiac catheter, is less invasive and traumatic than coronary artery bypass surgery. —Andrew Skolnick
Andrew Skolnick Open-heart surgery has become all but routine in recent years, although still physically traumatic. —Ralph T. King, Jr.
see also chronic traumatic encephalopathy, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury
Ralph T. King, Jr. Examples of traumatic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stress, previous surgeries, traumatic experiences or even unconscious muscle tensing can also contribute to this pain.
—Julianna Bragg, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
In a video alongside his wife, Catherine Lowe, posted on Instagram Monday, March 17, Sean, 41, opened up about the traumatic incident that unfolded on Thursday.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
According to Joseph’s research, any traumatic experience can cause this.
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 18 Mar. 2025
Sean Lowe had quite the traumatic experience over the weekend.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2025
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Julianna Bragg, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
In a video alongside his wife, Catherine Lowe, posted on Instagram Monday, March 17, Sean, 41, opened up about the traumatic incident that unfolded on Thursday.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
According to Joseph’s research, any traumatic experience can cause this.
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 18 Mar. 2025
Sean Lowe had quite the traumatic experience over the weekend.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for traumatic
Cite this Entry
“Traumatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traumatic. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
traumatic
adjective
trau·mat·ic
trə-ˈmat-ik, trȯ-, trau̇-
: of, relating to, resulting from, or causing a trauma
cases of traumatic rupture—The Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical Associationa traumatic experience
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