as in difficult
full of or causing stress; making you feel worried or anxious
I had a stressful day at work today. a stressful situation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stressful
The behind-the-scenes drama of this comedy-horror film sounds a lot more stressful and tense than anything in the film (multiple actors hated the material, played hooky from set, and disavowed the final product).
—
Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
The process as a whole is something the trustee’s office has acknowledged as stressful for property owners.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
The hunt for pens can be stressful, especially in larger international airports that see significant numbers of people moving through each day.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
The fastest way to a stressful hosting experience is by micro-managing and trying to do everything yourself, from setting out food and drink to cleaning up to fluttering around to ensure nothing is going wrong.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stressful
Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
The process as a whole is something the trustee’s office has acknowledged as stressful for property owners.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
The hunt for pens can be stressful, especially in larger international airports that see significant numbers of people moving through each day.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
The fastest way to a stressful hosting experience is by micro-managing and trying to do everything yourself, from setting out food and drink to cleaning up to fluttering around to ensure nothing is going wrong.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stressful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stressful
Adjective
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These events encourage community members to dispose of hazardous materials like gasoline, oil, chemicals, and more, which can be difficult to dispose of and pose a safety risk if not handled correctly.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
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Don't Look Now manipulates audiences' minds, mixing elements of the occult with the overwhelming need for hope into a plot twist audiences will find difficult to swallow.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Whether or not Takaichi's administration is as tough on immigration issues as her campaign rhetoric suggests, some observers warn that failing to actively invest in and integrate foreign nationals into society will have lasting harm on Asia’s second-largest economy.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Without a consolidation of that vote in the final stretch, Mamdani appears tough to beat.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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And Modi and Xi have had a more trying relationship than either has had with Putin.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
17 Sep. 2025
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When your spouse passes away, this can be a very trying and confusing time.—
Thomas Hager,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stressful. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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