eustress

noun

eu·​stress ˈyü-ˌstres How to pronounce eustress (audio)
: a positive form of stress having a beneficial effect on health, motivation, performance, and emotional well-being
… during positive stress ("eustress"), such as a promotion or vacation, feel-good chemicals called endorphins are released.Tracy Boyd

Examples of eustress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There is a Goldilocks rule of stress (called eustress) in which just enough can be best. Tracy Brower, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2023 Nervously excited is eustress. The Enquirer, 29 Dec. 2022 As a leader, convert negative stress to eustress by acknowledging and exploring your team’s issues. Andrew Deutscher, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2022 Focusing on eustress doesn’t mean ignoring the fact that distress exists. Andrew Deutscher, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2022 This is that scary-excited eustress, the common butterflies before a big game. The Enquirer, 20 Jan. 2022 Positive stress, or eustress, is caused by the likes of a job promotion, which comes with greater responsibility, more hours at the office, increased face time with your boss, et cetera. Kate Branch, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2018 There are multiple kinds of stress, including eustress, situational stress, and chronic stress. Elly Belle, Teen Vogue, 1 Nov. 2018 Understandably, people have been happy to pay money in exchange for doing it for centuries, and there is no sign of any waning in the appreciation of a bit of eustress. Richard Stephens, Smithsonian, 12 July 2018

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

Word History

Etymology

eu- + stress entry 1

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of eustress was in 1968

Dictionary Entries Near eustress

Cite this Entry

“Eustress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eustress. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

eustress

noun
eu·​stress ˈyü-ˌstres How to pronounce eustress (audio)
: a positive form of stress having a beneficial effect on health, motivation, performance, and emotional well-being
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