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
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.
Sorry to state the obvious, but parenting is stressful. Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 6 Mar. 2025 All of these were more common in people with depression, as were sleeplessness, chronic pain, obesity, smoking, loneliness, and stressful life events. Brian Mastroianni, Health, 6 Mar. 2025 Having too much variety or variability in your work can also be stressful. Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 Sometimes differing views on parenting, disagreements on what to do with a parent who needs care, feeling unsupported in a stressful period or losing intimacy can pose significant challenges. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stressful. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on stressful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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