traumatise

IPA/ˈtrɔː.mə.taɪz/
IPA/ˈtrɑː.mə.taɪz/

traumatise — verb

  • traumatisepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • traumatises3rd person singular
  • traumatising-ing form
  • traumatisedpast simple

1. to cause someone to feel such extreme fear, shock, or emotional pain that the ha

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to cause someone to feel such extreme fear, shock, or emotional pain that the harmful effects continue well beyond the initial event — for example, a child who experiences a violent event may develop lasting anxiety or recurring nightmares.

例句

Many children were traumatised by the earthquake that destroyed their village school.

passive: be + traumatised + by [event]

The war veteran felt traumatised for years after returning from the conflict zone.

felt + traumatised

同義詞
  • shock

    describes the immediate emotional reaction, but does not necessarily imply lasting harm

  • disturb

    milder in intensity; suggests upset or worry rather than deep psychological injury

  • scar

    focuses on the lasting emotional damage, similar to 'traumatise' but often used in figurative contexts

  • shatter

    strong and dramatic, emphasising complete emotional breakdown rather than ongoing effects

反義詞
  • heal

    the process of recovering from emotional injury, the opposite of causing it

  • comfort

    to give emotional support and reassurance, counteracting the effect of trauma

文法句型

traumatise + person

be + traumatised + by [event]

so + traumatised + that-clause

用法筆記

Often used in the passive voice. The subject is usually a shocking event or experience, and the object is the person affected. This sense is much stronger than 'upset' — it implies lasting psychological effects, not just temporary sadness or worry.

常見錯誤

❌I was traumatised by the difficult exam.
✅I was really stressed by the difficult exam.
💡'Traumatise' is too strong for everyday frustrations; it describes genuine psychological shock with lasting effects.