stress ball

noun

: a small ball or other object made of soft material (such as rubber) that one can squeeze with the hand to relieve stress and that usually resumes its original shape when released
In one study, sixth-graders who used stress balls were less distracted in class. The toys could also be more helpful for some people than others; in that study, students who were kinesthetic learners tended to use the stress balls more, and get more of an attention benefit from them.Julie Beck
The idea for using a stress ball is to transfer your stress, tension and anxiety into the ball by squeezing it as best you can, and then release. The ball's job is to absorb it all! Unlike paper that you wad up tightly in your hand, the ball quickly returns to its original shape when the pressure is released.Kim Harris
Finally, it was time to meet the one who instigated this comparison. The day McDonald's was delivered, we received a package with score cards, a stress ball in the shape of a burger and the laminated photo you see next to the meal.Anne Marie Panoringan

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Stress-Ball Squeeze Squish a stress ball (a tennis ball works too) with your entire hand for 5 to 10 pulses. Mallory Creveling, Women's Health, 23 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stress ball.' 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

1988, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stress ball was in 1988

Dictionary Entries Near stress ball

Cite this Entry

“Stress ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stress%20ball. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

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!


A Good Old-Fashioned Quiz

Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY