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
Victoria Malloy, Outside Online, 21 July 2025
The three-, five- and seven-day programs are built around each guest’s hormonal stage and focus on nutrition, sleep, stress, movement and recovery.
—Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
The panel highlighted the challenges facing Colombia’s independent film industry, 10 years after the most recent film law and its incentives were launched, stressing the need for greater collaboration among producers, directors and institutions.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stress
Noun
After just two days in a forest, participants showed a 50 percent increase in natural killer cell activity—a key part of immune defense—as well as a reduction in stress hormones.
—Victoria Malloy, Outside Online, 21 July 2025
The three-, five- and seven-day programs are built around each guest’s hormonal stage and focus on nutrition, sleep, stress, movement and recovery.
—Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
But Osbourne stressed that the occult was never a way of life for him.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
The panel highlighted the challenges facing Colombia’s independent film industry, 10 years after the most recent film law and its incentives were launched, stressing the need for greater collaboration among producers, directors and institutions.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stress
Noun
-
The vote has coincided with efforts by Beijing to raise its military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan.—
Jan Camenzind Broomby,
NPR,
26 July 2025
-
Japanese government efforts to moderate inflation are working, though underlying Tokyo price pressures remain elevated, ING Economics said in a commentary.—
Teresa Cerojano,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
The choice of materials reflects local characteristics, with an emphasis on both horizontal and vertical elements.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
25 July 2025
-
This quarter, however, Musk put more emphasis on the amount of turbulence standing in the way of Tesla starting to see payoff from these investments.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
Still, shivering in the night chill and worrying about sharks for something that may not even lead to a good ride?—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
31 July 2025
-
Rather than worry, the best advice is to start getting prepared.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Verb
-
That said, many policymakers have emphasized taking a wait and see approach to monetary policy in the coming months as the economic impact of government policy plays out.—
Simon Moore,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Lawmakers who support using STAR bonds emphasize that taxpayers aren’t on the hook if the projects don’t make enough money to pay back the debt.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Fascinating and detailed, the show highlights all the reasons why the first series was so addictive in the first place, while allowing a brand-new cast to shine.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
31 July 2025
-
The company highlights the performance of podcasts, which saw revenue up close to 50 percent compared to the same period last year.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
Cortes has not pitched in the major leagues since the first week of April due to an elbow flexor strain.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Aug. 2025
-
The Chicago White Sox scratched infielder Miguel Vargas from the starting lineup moments before Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels because of a left oblique strain.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Designed to fill breaks in the action and typically set to cheesy pop ballads, the kiss cam was a major innovation that shifted the focus from courts and fields into the stands.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
3 Aug. 2025
-
Yes, the standalone cabins are reminiscent of those at North Carolina’s Cataloochee Ranch, and the focus on nourishing guests with farm-fresh ingredients is akin to the ethos of Tennessee’s Blackberry Farm.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As governments and large enterprises modernize their finance systems, there’s growing momentum to move beyond simple cloud migration—to embed AI in ways that reinforce trust.—
Rahul Bhatia,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
This response reinforces the narrative that has defined her post-WWE career.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stress. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share