combat fatigue

noun

: post-traumatic stress disorder occurring under wartime conditions (such as combat) that cause intense stress : battle fatigue, shell shock
Nearly a half-million American soldiers were battle casualties during the fighting in Europe; by 1945 another 111,000 neuropsychiatric cases—then usually called combat fatigue—had been treated.Roger J. Spiller
The psychological strain he continues to endure has had many names over the years. In World War I, it was shell shock. In World War II, it was combat fatigueSteven Lee Meyers

Examples of combat fatigue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Exercise releases endorphins, helping to combat fatigue and improve mood, while also giving you a sense of control over your body. Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 30 Sep. 2024 This motion can prevent issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome in your wrists, plus combat fatigue in the legs, Dooreck said. Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 3 Sep. 2024 Caffeine helps combat fatigue and improve mental alertness, energizing you for the day ahead. Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 12 Aug. 2024 Prioritize good sleep to help combat fatigue and mood swings, says Tan. Christin Perry, Parents, 22 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for combat fatigue 

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of combat fatigue was in 1943

Dictionary Entries Near combat fatigue

Cite this Entry

“Combat fatigue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combat%20fatigue. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

combat fatigue

noun
com·​bat fatigue ˈkäm-ˌbat- How to pronounce combat fatigue (audio)
: post-traumatic stress disorder occurring under wartime conditions (as combat) that cause intense stress

called also battle fatigue, shell shock, war neurosis

More from Merriam-Webster on combat fatigue

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!