shell-shock
Definition
- Noun:
- Psychological trauma from warfare: "shell-shock" refers to a psychological condition caused by prolonged exposure to the stress of combat, especially from artillery bombardments. It is characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, and emotional numbness.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Many soldiers returning from the front lines suffered from shell-shock. (Psychological trauma from war.)
- The term "shell-shock" was widely used during World War I to describe combat-related mental distress. (Historical usage for war trauma.)
Advanced Usage
"to suffer from shell-shock": to experience the psychological effects of combat.
- After months in the trenches, he began to suffer from shell-shock, trembling at loud noises. (He developed war-related trauma.)
"shell-shocked" (adj): in a state of extreme confusion or shock.
- She looked shell-shocked after hearing the news. (She appeared stunned or traumatized.)
Variants and Related Words
Shell-shocked (adj): affected by shell-shock; stunned or dazed.
- The veteran was shell-shocked and unable to speak. (Traumatized and overwhelmed.)
Combat stress reaction (n): a modern clinical term for similar war-related psychological symptoms.
- Combat stress reaction is now preferred over the older term shell-shock. (Updated medical terminology.)
Synonyms
- War neurosis: a historical term for anxiety disorders caused by war.
- Battle fatigue: exhaustion and psychological strain from combat.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a broader clinical condition that includes shell-shock as a subtype.
Phrasal Verbs
- Shock into: to cause someone to react suddenly due to trauma.
- The explosion shocked him into a state of shell-shock. (The trauma triggered a psychological response.)
Related Idioms
In a state of shock: experiencing severe emotional or physical distress.
- He was in a state of shock after witnessing the battle. (Similar to shell-shock but not war-specific.)
Bombed out: exhausted or traumatized by intense experiences.
- After the long campaign, the troops were bombed out and shell-shocked. (Both physically and mentally drained.)