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Definition of "traumatize" [traumatize]

  • To wound or injure (a tissue), as in a surgical operation. (verb-transitive)
  • To subject to psychological trauma. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "traumatize" in a sentence
  • "In my undergrad research class I wanted to replicate the Bystander Effect by having a confederate pretend to faint we wanted to look for gender differences in responses by participants and I was told by the IRB that it might "traumatize" my participants."
  • "Also, the "child" is an adult; how will a paternity test 'traumatize' him?"
  • "As silly as it may sound, I do not wan to "traumatize" her for crowns that may no tbe extremely necessary."