Synonyms of stress

stress 1 of 2

noun

ˈstres 

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

• pressure
• strain
• tension
• worry
• anxiety
• load
• concern
• weight
• anger
• irritation
• trouble
• persecution
• uneasiness
• aggravation
• annoyance
• exasperation

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• comfort
• consolation

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

• emphasis
• focus
• weight
• accent
• accentuation
• concentration
• attention
• underscoring
• value
• significance
• priority
• consequence
• moment
• consideration
• spotlight
• import
• worth
• precedence
• primacy
• top billing
• regard
• note
• heed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimization
• indifference
• disregard
• de-emphasis
• underemphasis

stress

2 of 2

verb

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

• worry
• fear
• fret
• trouble
• sweat
• bother
• stew
• fuss
• sweat blood
• give a hang
• long
• despair
• pine
• agonize
• yearn
• chafe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accept
• take
• endure
• bear
• sustain
• tolerate
• abide
• stomach
• stick out

2

as in to emphasize

to make more apparent

his bad performance only stressed what I'd been saying all along

Synonyms & Similar Words

• emphasize
• reinforce
• enhance
• deepen
• underline
• underscore
• bring out
• accentuate
• strengthen
• maximize
• heighten
• amplify
• supplement
• augment
• italicize
• boost
• magnify
• enlarge
• jazz (up)
• beef (up)
• enliven

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reduce
• minimize
• decrease
• tone (down)
• lessen
• diminish
• de-emphasize
• weaken
• understate
• subdue

3

as in to highlight

to indicate the importance of by centering attention on

the doctor stressed the importance of exercise

Synonyms & Similar Words

• emphasize
• highlight
• feature
• accent
• point (up)
• focus
• punctuate
• identify
• accentuate
• bear down on
• press
• illuminate
• play up
• foreground
• promote
• pinpoint
• make much of
• advertise
• spotlight
• boost
• publicize
• plug
• overplay

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tone (down)
• play down
• minimize
• understate
• underemphasize
• de-emphasize
• discount
• belittle
• disparage

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stress

Noun

Level 5 of sustaining character across context and under stress is not reached by resolving to be more humble, or more courageous. — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

People are getting heat stress, vomiting, asking to go back to the hotel—not just here, all over Europe. — Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Verb

But the judge stressed that the White House was free to proceed with underground work, including the construction of any bunkers, military installations and medical facilities. — Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026

Organizers from Faith in Florida, which occupied a purple booth away from the people pushing individual candidates, stressed that the group does not endorse candidates or tell people who to vote for. — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026