stressor

noun

stress·​or ˈstre-sər How to pronounce stressor (audio)
-ˌsȯr
: a stimulus that causes stress

Examples of stressor in a Sentence

Credit card debt is a major stressor in her life.
Recent Examples on the Web On Monday, the board announced UA President Robbins would be taking a 10% pay cut in the midst of the financial stressors. The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 This new song finds Parker offering an uplifting, musical respite for those who need a self-care moment away from the stressors that come with the daily grind. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 26 Feb. 2024 The stressors affecting kids The authors can’t fully explain the findings. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 By contrast, in captivity, whales facing environmental stressors have sometimes tragically lashed out at their human trainers. Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024 There’s no change in the landscape, so that kind of stressor is much like spaceflight. Nicholas Stfleur, STAT, 16 Feb. 2024 Healthcare workers and anyone in any industry that deals with life-and-death situations have higher stressors in their daily jobs. Hanna Kang, Orange County Register, 20 Jan. 2024 Colleges and universities – public and private – are facing enormous stressors these days. Michael Sandler, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Costs of Raising a Child Childcare was a primary concern of parents in the NerdWallet survey, with 20% of respondents calling it their most significant financial stressor. Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stressor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stressor was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near stressor

Cite this Entry

“Stressor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stressor. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

stressor

noun
stress·​or ˈstres-ər How to pronounce stressor (audio) -ˌȯ(ə)r How to pronounce stressor (audio)
: a stimulus that causes stress
psychological stressors
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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