stressor

noun

stress·​or ˈstre-sər  -ˌsȯr 

: a stimulus that causes stress

Examples of stressor in a Sentence

Credit card debt is a major stressor in her life.

Recent Examples on the Web

The welcome ritual that invites you to scrub away stressors from the week prior is centered around products made directly from botanicals grown at the 6-acre, on-site farm. — Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026

Although Futterman adeptly surveys tennis’s stressors, the shape of the crisis that tennis faces, and its stakes, eludes him. — Josh Levin, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026

The gentle formula was inspired by her garden and uses ingredients like aloe vera juice, ginger root extract, and bisabolol (a plant extract) to hydrate, soothe redness, and protect skin from environmental stressors. — Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026

Infections, other immune-system stressors and, more rarely, brain injuries may also contribute in genetically susceptible individuals. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stressor

• dresser
• lesser
• lessor
• presser
• pressor
• aggressor
• assessor
• compressor
• confessor
• depressor
• hairdresser
• necessar

Medical Definition

stressor

noun

stress·​or ˈstres-ər  -ˌȯ(ə)r 

: a stimulus that causes stress

psychological stressors