to traumatize
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to traumatize
To cause someone severe emotional suffering or shock (a trauma) that can have long-term psychological consequences.
Der brutale Überfall hat die junge Frau tief traumatisiert.
The brutal attack deeply traumatized the young woman.
The verb 'traumatisieren' (to traumatize) is derived directly from the noun 'das Trauma' (trauma). It means to cause someone trauma. If you know the meaning of the noun, the verb is easy to understand.
Solche Erlebnisse können Kinder schwer traumatisieren.
Such experiences can severely traumatize children.
Like most verbs ending in '-ieren', 'traumatisieren' (to traumatize) is regular and forms the past participle without the prefix 'ge-'. The correct form is 'traumatisiert' (traumatized).
Er wurde durch den Unfall schwer traumatisiert.
He was severely traumatized by the accident.
This verb is very often used in the passive to put the victim in focus. In the active sentence, the terrible event is the subject; in the passive sentence, it is the affected person.
Der Krieg hat eine ganze Generation traumatisiert.
The war traumatized an entire generation.
To express the severity of the trauma, the verb is often combined with adverbs such as 'schwer' (severely), 'tief' (deeply), or 'nachhaltig' (lastingly).
Die Erfahrung hat sie nachhaltig traumatisiert.
The experience traumatized her in a lasting way.
to injure / hurt / violate
'verletzen' and 'traumatisieren' can both be connected to emotional suffering. 'verletzen' is often used when words or actions hurt someone or make them sad. This can be serious, but it does not have to be lasting. 'traumatisieren' is much stronger: it refers to a severe shock or a very terrible experience that can have long-term psychological consequences. For ordinary hurt feelings, 'traumatisieren' is too strong. If someone is deeply and lastingly affected by an event, 'traumatisieren' is more precise.
Der schwere Unfall hat das Kind traumatisiert.
The serious accident traumatized the child.
Seine harte Kritik hat Lisa sehr verletzt.
His harsh criticism hurt Lisa a lot.