stressful

adjective

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

Examples of stressful in a Sentence

I had a stressful day at work today.
Recent Examples on the Web Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Baldwin continue to navigate a stressful time leading up to his trial over the 2021 fatal Rust shooting. Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 A couple of changes to your household expenses will make your life less stressful. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 Without these cars, Owens said basic errands would be more stressful. Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 Doubling up is uncomfortable, stressful and in no way a long-term solution for people experiencing homelessness. Aidan Gardiner, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Several issues cause travel to be particularly stressful for people with ADHD—such as struggling with executive function, time blindness, and working memory. Anita Bhagwandas, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2024 During a traumatic or stressful event, cortisol levels spike, increasing blood flow to the brain, releasing glucose for quick energy, and bolstering the body to respond to the trauma. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 29 Feb. 2024 But other changes turned the process into a chaotic, stressful and emotional experience. Elda Alvarez, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 And things have only gotten a lot more stressful for kids since. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stressful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stressful was in 1846

Dictionary Entries Near stressful

Cite this Entry

“Stressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stressful. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stressful

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

Medical Definition

stressful

adjective
stress·​ful ˈstres-fəl How to pronounce stressful (audio)
: full of or subject to stress
stressful situations
stressfully adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!