stressful

adjective

stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl How to pronounce stressful (audio)
Synonyms of stressfulnext
: full of or tending to induce stress
stressfully adverb

Examples of stressful in a Sentence

I had a stressful day at work today.
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.
The real minutes, tough minutes on the road, stressful. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026 Her tendency to sleepwalk (a side effect of taking lithium), exacerbated by stressful family situations and an equally stressful job, has already gotten her into trouble more than once. Agnieszka Szpila, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 Gilmore, who spent 19 years as a school superintendent in Wisconsin before retiring in 2022, said being the leader of a school district has always been a stressful, complicated job. Silas Allen, Dallas Morning News, 24 Mar. 2026 Shopping for a new PC can be pretty stressful right now, as the chip market is going beast mode in 2026. K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stressful

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stressful was in 1846

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stressful. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

stressful

adjective
stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl How to pronounce stressful (audio)
: full of or tending to cause stress
stressfully adverb

Medical Definition

stressful

adjective
stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl How to pronounce stressful (audio)
: full of or subject to stress
stressful situations
stressfully adverb

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