1
as in pressure
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time
with a full-time job and her college courses, the young woman is under a lot of stress right now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in emphasis
a special notice or importance given to something
the company's orientation program places considerable stress on workplace safety
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to worry
to experience concern or anxiety
the restaurant manager has a tendency to stress about every little thing that goes wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to emphasize
to make more apparent
his bad performance only stressed what I'd been saying all along
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to highlight
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
the doctor stressed the importance of exercise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of stress
Jeffrey Selingo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
The body believes stronger muscles will experience less stress, in other words.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Jalapeños become spicier if the plants are slightly stressed during the growing season.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stress
Noun
The fixation on a single dream school narrows opportunity, heightens stress, and sometimes backfires.
—Jeffrey Selingo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
The body believes stronger muscles will experience less stress, in other words.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
In contrast, parenting in India stresses making the child aware of the interdependence of family members.
—Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Jalapeños become spicier if the plants are slightly stressed during the growing season.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stress
Noun
-
Like any sector of tech, there’s pressure to innovate, of course.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The move follows mounting political pressure and marks a shift in how YouTube handles past bans tied to outdated policies.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The advice in the 2025 scientific reports hasn't changed much from previous years, and includes an emphasis on consuming fruits and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Reporting to David Ellison, the CEO of Paramount, Weiss is under a heavy level of scrutiny in her initial days, as there has been a level of wariness among a number of staffers given her background as an opinion writer and lack of experience in broadcast TV and its emphasis on breaking news.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Don’t worry, all items are incredibly versatile, like sleek sneakers, cozy cardigans, and matching sets—plus, prices start at a budget-friendly $12.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Another part worried that the flavor of my favorite childhood dish would taste too much like comfort—and comfort, right now, feels like betrayal as so many Palestinians in Gaza go hungry.—
Reem Kassis,
The Atlantic,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When making placements at the Turina James, unlike at the Civic and other CoLEAD shelters, the city is no longer emphasizing Third Avenue clients but instead people from Seattle’s Chinatown-International District.—
Ashley Hiruko,
ProPublica,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The event, launched in 1982, celebrates the freedom to read and express ideas and emphasizes the importance of fighting censorship.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For each table, players highlighted in orange are new veteran additions, while players highlighted in green are 2024 first-round picks.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
This year's speed festival highlighted some of the best women in automotive racing.—
Keenan Thompson,
Freep.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Real Madrid star Franco Mastantuono suffered a muscle strain and will leave the Argentine camp and head back to Spain.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The World Health Organization’s vaccine recommendations for the 2026 Southern hemisphere flu season included two strains that are different from the 2025 Northern hemisphere flu season.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His face held emotionless focus.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The government shutdown prevented BLS from issuing its jobs report for September on Friday, putting outsized focus on alternate gauges.—
Danny Bakst,
Fortune,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The clutch start in the regional only reinforced it.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Wooden vessels for polar exploration typically reinforced the hulls internally with diagonal support beams, which braced the sides of the ship against lateral compression from powerful sea ice, said Tuhkuri, who researches the mechanics of ice.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stress. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share