Synonyms

PTSD

American

[pee-tee-es-dee] / ˈpiˈtiˈɛsˈdi /

abbreviation

post-traumatic stress disorder: a mental disorder occurring after an extremely distressing, stressful, or frightening event and characterized by symptoms such as reliving the event, avoidance of anything that is a reminder of the event, withdrawal from social interactions or previous activities, and an increase in feelings of anxiety, anger, sadness, shame, or guilt.

PTSD British

abbreviation

post-traumatic stress disorder

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Compare meaning

How does ptsd compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

shell shock vs. PTSD

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.

He said that Baird had been diagnosed as possibly having PTSD, having witnessed and suffered from armed car-jacking incidents in South Africa.

From BBC

Department of Veterans Affairs to treat PTSD, helped her pack the imagery into long-term memory.

From Los Angeles Times

His attorneys called an expert who testified that Puig’s arduous journey from his home country caused PTSD.

From Los Angeles Times

He said he felt a duty to stand his ground, saying the policy would also impact people with a range of other disabilities, including those with conditions such as PTSD.

From BBC

My first play at my all-girls school was about David, a World War I vet who returned with PTSD.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023