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
Combat and other traumatic events cause changes in the brain that trigger PTSD.
—Chip Reid, CBS News, 7 July 2024
Both adults were expected to survive the traumatic event.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 July 2024
As Americans prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July, former Good Morning America host Amy Robach shared a traumatic event her family experienced on a prior Independence Day.
—EW.com, 4 July 2024
New immersive technology being used in virtual reality devices creates lifelike experiences for the viewers and game-players, which has led to simulated rape and violent attacks with terrifying and traumatic impact.
—Linda Robinson, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for traumatic 
Chip Reid, CBS News, 7 July 2024
Both adults were expected to survive the traumatic event.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 July 2024
As Americans prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July, former Good Morning America host Amy Robach shared a traumatic event her family experienced on a prior Independence Day.
—EW.com, 4 July 2024
New immersive technology being used in virtual reality devices creates lifelike experiences for the viewers and game-players, which has led to simulated rape and violent attacks with terrifying and traumatic impact.
—Linda Robinson, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for traumatic
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Cite this Entry
“Traumatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traumatic. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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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