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Glite Dictionary
to traumatize

to traumatize

87 6.9
To cause someone to feel very shocked and upset
  • verb
  • /ˈtrɔːməˌtaɪz/
translation icon : traumatizar
  • Witnessing the accident traumatized him and left him unable to drive again.
  • traumatized victims
  • traumatized individuals
  • traumatized children

And so it was really, really traumatizing to teenager girls self esteem.

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Examples

  • More recently, the "Great Leap Forward" and the "Cultural Revolution" traumatized the Chinese people.

    Academic text (2001)

  • She says his rendition of The Impossible Dream traumatized every single person in the bar.

    Cupids on Beacon Street (2021)

  • 'Cause it would probably traumatize me for the rest of my life.

    Werewolves Within (2021)

  • Can Can you guys tell how, like, traumatizing birth is for me?

  • Indeed, at least that would be traumatizing, making kids do an app as well.

  • Actually, my mom thinks I might have been a little traumatized by the whole thing.

    Shallow Hal (2001)

  • The firm's employees were traumatized, but each of them got out OK.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Scheduling, testing, and guidance took a back seat to the needs of traumatized students, teachers, and support staff.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The burgers have been served, but Lloyd and Harry are still too traumatized to touch them.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • It was kind of traumatizing, weirdly enough.

Synonyms

to devastate
vsto traumatize
221 4.9

To destroy something greatly or make people feel deeply shocked and sad

creates long lasting psychological distress after a shocking event
to agonize
vsto traumatize
  • US
6 6.8

To make someone feel very strong pain or deep worry

produces severe psychological distress after a shocking event
to lacerate
vsto traumatize
1 7.6

To deeply hurt someone's feelings

causes severe psychological harm following a shocking event

Antonyms

to soothe
63 3.4

To make someone feel calmer or reduce their pain

How Traumatizing

to devastate
221 4.9
to traumatize
87 6.9
to disturb
153 2.5
to upset
362 1.0
to bother
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

traumatize infinitive
traumatise infinitive
traumatized past
traumatised past
traumatized past participle
traumatised past participle
traumatizing present participle
traumatising present participle
traumatizes third person singular
traumatise third person singular

Morphology

traumatize = trauma (transparent) = trauma + ize

Regular verb formation from the noun 'trauma' with the productive suffix '-ize', so the meaning 'to cause trauma' is directly derivable.

Etymology

The word traumatize comes from the Greek word trauma, which means 'wound', and the ending -ize meaning 'to make'. So, to traumatize someone is to 'wound' their mind or feelings, which is why it means causing deep emotional harm.