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Definitions

traumatic

[truh-mat-ik, traw-, trou-] / trəˈmæt ɪk, trɔ-, traʊ- /
ADJECTIVE
frightful/frightening
Synonyms
WEAK
alarming appalling atrocious awesome awful chilling daunting dire direful dismaying disquieting dread dreadful fearful fearsome formidable ghastly grabber grim grisly gruesome hair-raising hairy harrowing hideous horrendous horrible horrid horrifying inconceivable intimidating lurid macabre menacing morbid ominous petrifying portentous repellent spooky terrible terrifying unnerving unspeakable
Antonyms
WEAK
calming comforting pleasing
ADJECTIVE
harrowing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agonizing chilling distressing disturbing excruciating heart-wrenching heartbreaking painful terrifying torturous
STRONG
alarming racking soaring tearing tormenting torturing
WEAK
heart-rending nerve-racking
Antonyms
STRONGEST
pleasant
WEAK
calming pleasing unfrightening
ADJECTIVE
nightmarish
Synonyms
STRONGEST
awful chilling disquieting dreadful eerie ghastly grim grisly hair-raising hellish horrible horrid horrifying macabre scary spooky terrible terrifying
WEAK
alarming creepy dire direful fearful fearsome ghoulish morbid ominous petrifying unnerving
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calming good nice normal pleasant pleasing soothing wonderful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When I was born, I had a traumatic birth — I was backwards, I had the cord around, I was hyperactive.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

People are driven to "the really extreme negative ones… the ones that people say they had a traumatic experience, the ones where someone had a blood clot," she adds.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Our hope was that it would be less traumatic than a flight for her first long stretch in a pet carrier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

For example, disruptions in this drainage system may play a role after traumatic brain injury or in neurodegenerative diseases.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

Even though they were totally dedicated to defending the Motherland, having to “part with their braids” was so traumatic that many of the recruits cried about it.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Vocabulary lists containing traumatic

Vocabulary from "Stop Expecting Games to Build Empathy" by Julie Muncy

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Game Changer

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Tears of a Tiger

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