exertional

adjective

ex·​er·​tion·​al ig-ˈzər-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce exertional (audio)
: precipitated by physical exertion
exertional chest pain

Examples of exertional 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.
But even the most highly trained, elite athletes are vulnerable to what’s called exertional heat illness. — Dorany Pineda, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026 Spatz said the most common symptom of a heart attack in women is chest discomfort, pain/achiness in the arm or jaw and exertional shortness of breath. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2026 Consider something as simple as exertional capacity — the very thing that revealed the grandmother’s disease. — Celina Yong, STAT, 16 Apr. 2026 An autopsy determined that his death was caused by a combination of the exercises he was subjected to, his sickle cell trait, his body weight, and exertional rhabdomyolysis, according to prosecutors. — Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for exertional

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exertional was in 1959

Browse Nearby Words

exertion
exertional
exertive
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exertional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exertional. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

exertional

adjective
ex·​er·​tion·​al ig-ˈzərsh(-ə)-nəl How to pronounce exertional (audio)
: precipitated by physical exertion but usually relieved by rest
exertional rhabdomyolysis
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tacit

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All