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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stress
Winston Ma, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
After repotting, don’t apply fertilizer for a few weeks to avoid unnecessary plant stress.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2026
Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Overwatering, underwatering, or sudden environmental changes can stress plants and cause leaf loss.
—Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stress
Noun
The data centers being stress-tested today would serve as foundational infrastructure for that.
—Winston Ma, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
After repotting, don’t apply fertilizer for a few weeks to avoid unnecessary plant stress.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
But the agency didn't modify the heat shield itself, stressing that the hardware was up to the challenge.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Overwatering, underwatering, or sudden environmental changes can stress plants and cause leaf loss.
—Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stress
Noun
-
Though Kazakhs speaking out against China’s policies in Xinjiang have long faced pressure, advocacy groups say this is the first time such a large group of Xinjiang activists has been imprisoned in the country.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The ulcers are caused by prolonged pressure, often while patients are unable to move in a hospital bed.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Holafly is a great option that puts an emphasis on unlimited data plans for Mexico, Europe, Japan, China and over 160 other destinations.—
Liz Knueven,Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Industry insiders say the move reflects a growing emphasis on fast, casual dining that better fits modern travel habits.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Another employee spoke with The New Yorker for the 2016 story while wearing a disguise, worried about retribution.—
Paula Mejía,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Hikers, who already worry about bikes flying down narrow trails, now worry about e-bikes flying up from behind.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Others emphasized that customers rely on hemp products for far more than recreation.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Additional marketing themes for the 2026 models emphasize staying connected through every stage of your journey, and highlight the Lincoln Nautilus as a premium 2 row midsize luxury SUV as a quiet driving sanctuary on 4 wheels.—
Tony Leopardo,
Mercury News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wall Street analysts have highlighted that dollar dominance is anchored by the greenback’s use as the standard currency in the global oil trade.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Welcome to the Friday, April 10, 2026, private school baseball and softball edition of the Fastball, a Star-Telegram series highlighting Fort Worth-area teams.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These picks are designed to make getting around smoother, way more efficient, and to help frequent fliers avoid travel chaos (think tangled necklaces, dead phone batteries, and neck strains).—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
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The county also says its aging buildings are a strain on the system--with buildings on average being 48 years old, some nearing 100.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Local fire officials said the focus right now is preparation, before any flames ever start.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
With Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceding the election to opposition leader Péter Magyar’s Tisza party, the focus of Hungarian news media is trying to gauge the size of the party’s future majority.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Further reinforcing the overlap, businesses and residents increasingly are fleeing high taxes and prices in Illinois for a lower cost of living in Indiana.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
It's formulated with the label's game-changing Alpha Keratin 60KU, which nourishes the scalp, repairs damage, and reinforces hair strength.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stress. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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