trauma

Lasting emotional harm caused by a very frightening or upsetting experience.

• The attack left him with emotional trauma.
• Therapy helped her deal with childhood trauma.
• Can people recover from trauma without support?

Similar words: psychological injury

Common phrases: emotional trauma, recover from trauma

A frightening or deeply upsetting experience.

• The crash was a terrible trauma.
• She has experienced several traumas in her life.
• Moving again became another trauma for the child.

Similar words: ordeal

Common phrases: childhood trauma, experience a trauma

Serious physical injury caused by violence, a fall, or another accident.

• The hospital treats patients with severe trauma.
• She survived major trauma after the crash.
• The surgeon specializes in chest trauma.

Similar words: serious injury

Common phrases: major trauma, severe trauma

Damage to the body caused by an outside force, such as a blow or accident.

• The scan showed trauma to the shoulder.
• Even minor trauma can damage this tissue.
• Doctors checked for signs of head trauma.

How to use it: trauma to something (The fall caused trauma to his knee.)

Similar words: injury

Common phrases: physical trauma, tissue trauma