: subjected to or affected by stress
The feeling that one must show up for work even if one is too sick, stressed [=stressed-out], or distracted to be productive.Paul McFedries
As important as training is to distance running, the time devoted to repair stressed muscles between races is even more crucial.Joseph Hall
That translates into a drought, and stressed trees are highly susceptible to beetle infestations.Jim Robbins
… the soundscape inside these vehicles, punctuated by mechanical rattles and the groans of stressed metal …Chris Knight

Example Sentences

He was feeling pretty stressed about the deadline. you seem really stressed right now, so maybe you should try to do something more relaxing
Recent Examples on the Web Job Satisfaction: Companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars assessing and measuring their workers’ level of engagement, but workers are still unfulfilled and stressed. Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2023 The brown spots are a fungus, also natural on stressed plants. oregonlive, 26 Feb. 2023 And in company consumer trials, the fragrance helped 94 percent of wearers feel less stressed. Brian Underwood, Women's Health, 15 Feb. 2023 In fact, 45% of people feel stressed, 36% feel scared or depressed and 25% feel demotivated, according to a study by Clarify Capital. Tracy Brower, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023 All this is to say that software developers are less stressed, have a healthier work-life balance, and make good money: a median $120,000 annually. Jane Thier, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2023 Not having to work 55 hours or 60 hours a week, though, could help more families be less stressed and spend more time with their children. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 4 Nov. 2021 Parents, meanwhile, can feel stressed, lose sleep and act less responsively to their children. Molly Glick, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2021 This particular example, chassis 032, features an open-top glass cockpit and a curvaceous body made from stressed alloy panels and fiberglass. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 15 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stressed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stressed was in 1973

Dictionary Entries Near stressed

Cite this Entry

“Stressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stressed. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.

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