# traumatized

/ˈtɹɔməˌtaɪzd/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/traumatized
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

feeling very shocked and upset for a long time after a bad experience. You use this to describe someone who has suffered a deep emotional injury.

For teachers: suffering from lasting psychological distress or emotional shock following a deeply disturbing event. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', or 'remain'.

## Examples

- The survivors were deeply traumatized by the accident.
- Many children were traumatized by the sudden evacuation and required professional support to process their fear.
- While some individuals show remarkable resilience, others remain severely traumatized for years, experiencing intrusive memories and heightened anxiety that interfere with daily functioning.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The news traumatized to her" but "The news traumatized her" — When used as a verb, it is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.

## Usage notes

- Often modified by degree adverbs such as 'deeply', 'severely', or 'permanently'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.