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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.
Mariana Rodriguez, the director of UMOS' Latina Resource Center, said being responsive to ever-changing executive orders is a stressful balancing act. Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 1 Dec. 2025 Your kids might eat dinner at the table, on the couch, or on the floor (whatever arrangement is the least stressful). Alex Vance, Parents, 1 Dec. 2025 Making dessert for a crowd is stressful. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025 Yet for one Reddit poster, a long-standing tradition of renting a lakeside house with her parents, siblings and adult nieces and nephews has taken an unexpectedly stressful turn. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025 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 8 Dec. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on stressful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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