stress 1 of 2

noun

ˈstres How to pronounce stress (audio)
Definition of stressnext
1
as in pressure
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time with a full-time job and her college courses, the young woman is under a lot of stress right now

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in emphasis
a special notice or importance given to something the company's orientation program places considerable stress on workplace safety

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stress

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to worry
to experience concern or anxiety the restaurant manager has a tendency to stress about every little thing that goes wrong

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to emphasize
to make more apparent his bad performance only stressed what I'd been saying all along

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to highlight
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on the doctor stressed the importance of exercise

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of stress
Noun
But during long days of airport delays, cancellations, and perhaps an unruly passenger or two, humor is a welcome way to relieve stress. — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2026 Accumulative stress may begin to take over when the Capricorn moon stands off with Mars. — Usa Today, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
Teaching simple techniques, like taking a pause when stressed, can make a world of difference when making decisions, Hunt expressed. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026 Pests or salt buildup in soil can stress pothos; use insecticidal soap or flush or replace soil to remove harmful deposits. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stress
  1. pressure
  2. emphasis
  3. worry
  4. emphasize
  5. highlight
  6. strain
  7. focus
  8. reinforce
Noun
  • The Sun quincunxes Pluto, highlighting where careful effort meets control issues, hidden pressure, or shifting priorities.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The project uses horror and darkly comic genre elements to approach the psychological pressures of motherhood, extending Urban’s interest in personal experience as a route into broader social and political terrain.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of pressure
Noun
  • The new study instead places particular emphasis on a continent-scale rift-flank escarpment formed during Rodinia’s breakup.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The emphasis on age-appropriate products could explain the mixed reaction to Shay Mitchell’s Rini, a skin care line developed for kids ages 4 and up, which launched with sheet masks.
    — Faye Brookman, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of emphasis
Verb
  • Homecoming aside, there’s still the Trawler to worry about, a fact we’re reminded of when another victim turns up on a playground, this time with a pentagram carved into his back and fish corpses shoved into his wounds.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Bessent’s answer indicates that US officials worry going after Chinese banks would be crossing a red line.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of worry
Verb
  • Bleeding ranchers While expensive cattle may have given some American cattle producers breathing room, ranchers who spoke with CNN emphasized that high prices haven’t ensured easy wealth.
    — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The article emphasizes that this challenge relates to emotional intelligence, specifically relationship management.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of emphasize
Verb
  • In a statement posted on social media, Obama highlighted Parton’s humble roots, colossal impact in music and Hollywood, and her philanthropic work.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Property Masters Guild aims to highlight and elevate the craft of the Property Master by raising awareness, fostering collaboration among craft artisans, educating its members and inspiring future generations of Property Masters.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of highlight
Noun
  • Other Giants pitchers on the IL include Matt Gage (left elbow strain), Trevor McDonald (right elbow strain), and Keaton Winn (right elbow neuritis).
    — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • But for the future of the Reds, the most important thing down the stretch might be whether McLain can continue his improved production since his late July return from a calf strain.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of strain
Noun
  • The Moon enters Sagittarius and your 4th House of Home, Family, and Emotional Roots, pulling your focus toward rest, privacy, space, or household needs.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Initial plans were for natural gas generators that would create more emissions than the state’s two largest cities combined, which were a common point of focus for local critics.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of focus
Verb
  • To reinforce its point, the North followed up Thursday with a barrage of about a dozen short-range ballistic missiles launched from around the capital, Pyongyang, eastward toward the sea, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
    — Anthony Kuhn, NPR, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Stick Velcro dots to the underside of the felt at the top and bottom, reinforcing the adhesive under the Velcro dots with a little bit of hot glue.
    — Jodi Levine, Parents, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of reinforce

Browse Nearby Words

strenuously
stress
stressed
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Cite this Entry

“Stress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stress. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stress

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stress

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