traumatic

IPA/trɔːˈmætɪk/
KK[trɔmˈætɪk]IPA/trəˈmætɪk/

traumatic — adjective

  • traumaticpositive
  • more traumaticcomparative
  • most traumaticsuperlative

1. so shocking or frightening that it affects someone's emotional health for a long

1.形容詞B2
釋義

so shocking or frightening that it affects someone's emotional health for a long time afterward

例句

Mei found it traumatic to watch her house burn down, even years after the fire.

traumatic + to-infinitive clause

Arjun still had nightmares about the traumatic accident he witnessed as a child.

collocation: traumatic accident / traumatic event

同義詞
  • harrowing

    more literary; suggests prolonged distress rather than a single shock

  • devastating

    focuses on the destruction of someone's emotional wellbeing; broader than traumatic

  • distressing

    milder than traumatic; covers everyday upset without implying lasting harm

反義詞
  • comforting

    brings emotional relief rather than pain

用法筆記

Commonly used with nouns like 'experience', 'event', 'memory', and 'childhood'. Also appears in the fixed phrase 'traumatic stress' as in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

常見錯誤

❌The traffic jam was so traumatic this morning.
✅The traffic jam was so stressful this morning.
💡'Traumatic' is too strong for everyday annoyances; use it only for genuinely shocking or life-altering events.

2. describes something that makes a person feel intensely worried or distressed, th

2.形容詞B1
釋義

describes something that makes a person feel intensely worried or distressed, though the effect is usually temporary

例句

Kwame said the job interview was so traumatic he never wants to repeat it.

informal use for an upsetting event

Giving a speech in front of five hundred people was traumatic for Jack.

collocation: traumatic experience

同義詞
  • upsetting

    weaker; suitable for everyday disappointments and frustrations

  • stressful

    focuses on pressure and anxiety rather than emotional pain

  • harrowing

    stronger and more literary than this informal sense

反義詞

用法筆記

This is the less severe, everyday sense. It overlaps with 'very upsetting' but carries stronger emotional weight. Distinguish from sense 1 — if the effect is short-lived and the trigger is a common life stressor (exam, interview, public speech), this sense applies. If the event causes lasting psychological symptoms, sense 1 is more accurate.

常見錯誤

❌I forgot my wallet and it was traumatic.
✅I forgot my wallet and it was really embarrassing.
💡Minor setbacks are not traumatic even in the informal sense.

3. relating to a serious physical wound or damage to the body that is caused by an

3.形容詞B2
釋義

relating to a serious physical wound or damage to the body that is caused by an accident, violence, or medical procedure

例句

The patient was rushed to the hospital with traumatic brain injuries after the car crash.

medical domain: traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Doctors said the knife wound caused significant traumatic damage to the muscle tissue and nerves.

collocation: traumatic damage

同義詞
  • injury-related

    neutral and descriptive without the severity implication

  • acute

    focuses on sudden onset rather than cause of the injury

用法筆記

Mostly used in medical writing and clinical contexts. Common in compound terms such as 'traumatic brain injury' (TBI), 'traumatic shock', and 'post-traumatic stress'. When used of physical injury, the word does not imply psychological harm, though both often co-occur.

常見錯誤

❌He had a traumatic cut on his finger.
✅He had a deep cut on his finger.
💡'Traumatic' is reserved for serious, often life-threatening physical injuries, not minor cuts or bruises.