stressful

adjective

stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl 

: full of or tending to induce stress

stressfully

ˈstres-fə-lē 

adverb

Examples of stressful in a Sentence

I had a stressful day at work today.

Recent Examples on the Web

Mentally engaged dogs tend to bounce back faster from stressful events, ranging from illnesses to thunderstorms. — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Teresa Lenshyn, who is among the evacuees, said being forced to leave was chaotic and stressful. — Haven Daly, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

But during a particularly stressful period in college — including a serious health scare that left her bedridden for a month — her symptoms became harder to ignore. — Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026

Choosing a school for a young child can be stressful for families. — Jose Bolaños, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stressful

• distressful
• successful
• unsuccessful

Kids Definition

stressful

adjective

stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl 

: full of or tending to cause stress

stressfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

stressful

adjective

stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl 

: full of or subject to stress

stressful situations

stressfully

-fə-lē 

adverb