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.
Getty Images/iStockphoto Purchasing a home or refinancing your current one can be both a time-consuming and stressful process. Matt Richardson, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026 Looking back, what began as a stressful accident ended on a much lighter note. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026 In fact, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) was the most stressful airport in America, according to a new study from airport transfer provider Mozio that was shared with Travel + Leisure. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2026 Summer is a stressful time to plant in the garden and many plants are unlikely to survive or thrive being planted in the heat. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 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 16 Apr. 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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