stressful

adjective

stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl How to pronounce stressful (audio)
Synonyms of stressfulnext
: full of or tending to induce stress
stressfully
ˈstres-fə-lē How to pronounce stressful (audio)
adverb

Examples of stressful in a Sentence

I had a stressful day at work today.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And Vincent shot himself just days after a stressful visit with Jo and Theo in Paris. — Joan Martelli, Time, 17 Oct. 2026 That might seem a bit stressful for someone who’s juggling a new album, a global tour and his upcoming acting debut in Lena Dunham‘s Good Sex. — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 Long drives between assignments can also be extremely stressful for caregivers. — Colin Conner Ii, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 An organized vehicle can make daily driving feel noticeably less stressful. — New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stressful

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stressful was in 1846

Rhymes for stressful

See All Rhymes for stressful

Browse Nearby Words

stress fracture
stressful
stressfully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stressful. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stressful

adjective
stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl How to pronounce stressful (audio)
: full of or tending to cause stress
stressfully
-fə-lē How to pronounce stressful (audio)
adverb

Medical Definition

stressful

adjective
stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl How to pronounce stressful (audio)
: full of or subject to stress
stressful situations
stressfully
-fə-lē How to pronounce stressful (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on stressful

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stressful

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