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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stressful
Watching your child struggle with self-regulation can be frustrating, stressful, and downright heartbreaking.
—
wendy Wisner, Parents, 21 Jan. 2025
During stressful times, the adrenal glands rapidly respond by increasing secretions of specific hormones, which affect metabolism.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 20 Jan. 2025
The first season focused on the F.B.I. agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), who is thrown into a conspiracy involving the White House; this second season, filmed in New York, Washington and Thailand, brings similarly stressful stakes.
—Shivani Gonzalez, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Retirement Without the Stress Retirement doesn’t have to be stressful.
—Andrew Rosen, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stressful 
wendy Wisner, Parents, 21 Jan. 2025
During stressful times, the adrenal glands rapidly respond by increasing secretions of specific hormones, which affect metabolism.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 20 Jan. 2025
The first season focused on the F.B.I. agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), who is thrown into a conspiracy involving the White House; this second season, filmed in New York, Washington and Thailand, brings similarly stressful stakes.
—Shivani Gonzalez, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Retirement Without the Stress Retirement doesn’t have to be stressful.
—Andrew Rosen, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stressful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stressful
Adjective
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An aviation expert, along with the Army pilot, tells PEOPLE that Reagan National Airport can be especially difficult to fly into.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
30 Jan. 2025
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Challenges of an Airline Pilot's Lifestyle Beyond the technical demands of the job, Wallach said the most difficult part of being a pilot was the lifestyle—particularly as a single parent.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Strings — and the fact the Nampa show happens May 20, before Idaho temperatures boil — makes this music lineup tough to resist.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Feb. 2025
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On the other hand, Hill has had a tough time recently.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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And Washington’s offensive line, even after losing Pro Bowl guard Sam Cosmi in the first half to a knee injury, was damn near flawless under the most trying of circumstances.—
David Aldridge,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
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Directed by Justin Baldoni, the film offers a powerful and sobering narrative about how romance colors our vision even in the most trying and terrifying of moments.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
30 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near stressful
Cite this Entry
“Stressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stressful. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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