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.

Tottenham Hotspur's traumatic season can be summed up to perfection by the fact that even when they actually win, it still ends in defeat.

From BBC

Her mother said the whole process was traumatic for her and was made worse by the fact she was away from home.

From BBC

Both brothers have over the years spoken openly about the traumatic impacts of losing their mother at a young age.

From BBC

Brian can smile about it now, but when he tells the story, it's clear it was a traumatic moment.

From BBC

When my wife suffered a traumatic brain injury, she wanted to read only romance novels.

From The Wall Street Journal