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.
Voisard noted that an eagle’s first flight is a stressful endeavor that saps the bird’s energy. — Kris Wernowsky, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026 This 31% discount makes protecting your perimeter much less stressful. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026 Life is stressful and hard, but let’s find joy in our everyday beauty routines—and Brunel is making that easier. — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 29 June 2026 The findings reveal that the happiest jobs aren’t necessarily the least stressful. — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 2 July 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 7 Jul. 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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