What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
traumatic
Example
The car accident was a traumatic experience for everyone involved. [traumatic: adjective]
Example
She suffered from traumatic memories of the war. [traumatic: adjective]
distressing
Example
It was distressing to see the damage caused by the hurricane. [distressing: adjective]
Example
The news of the layoffs was distressing for the employees. [distressing: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distressing is more commonly used than traumatic in everyday language. Distressing is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts, while traumatic is more specific and often used in clinical or medical settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between traumatic and distressing?
Both traumatic and distressing can be used in formal or informal contexts, but traumatic may be more commonly used in professional or medical settings due to its clinical connotation.
