stressful

adjective

stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl How to pronounce stressful (audio)
Synonyms of stressfulnext
: full of or tending to induce stress
stressfully
ˈstres-fə-lē How to pronounce stressful (audio)
adverb

Examples of stressful in a Sentence

I had a stressful day at work today.
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.
By making the encounter stressful, biologists hope the bear will leave the neighborhood, head back into wild habitat, and think twice before returning for another easy meal from a dumpster or trash can. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 But the three women kept going, and after several more stressful minutes, they all got signed up. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Aug. 2026 Back-to-school shopping doesn't have to break your budget or be stressful. — Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 On top of that, many schools have kids spending lots of time on screens, even though staring at them for long periods can be stressful and exhausting. — Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stressful

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stressful was in 1846

Rhymes for stressful

See All Rhymes for stressful

Browse Nearby Words

stress fracture
stressful
stressfully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stressful. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stressful

adjective
stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl How to pronounce stressful (audio)
: full of or tending to cause stress
stressfully
-fə-lē How to pronounce stressful (audio)
adverb

Medical Definition

stressful

adjective
stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl How to pronounce stressful (audio)
: full of or subject to stress
stressful situations
stressfully
-fə-lē How to pronounce stressful (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on stressful

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stressful

Nglish: Translation of stressful for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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