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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of stressful
Emotional Intelligence Work can be demanding and stressful.
—
John Hall, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
In Sunday’s stressful Season 3 finale, all the storylines came to a tragic climax, with Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), Rick (Walton Goggins) and Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn), who was revealed to be Rick’s real father, all dying in a shootout at the resort.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025
Having a toddler-age child is thought to be among the most stressful periods in a parent's life.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
Having something to contribute outside of hair helps build the relationship and keeps the energy fun, even on the most stressful days.
—Jessica Fields, Essence, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stressful
John Hall, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
In Sunday’s stressful Season 3 finale, all the storylines came to a tragic climax, with Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), Rick (Walton Goggins) and Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn), who was revealed to be Rick’s real father, all dying in a shootout at the resort.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025
Having a toddler-age child is thought to be among the most stressful periods in a parent's life.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
Having something to contribute outside of hair helps build the relationship and keeps the energy fun, even on the most stressful days.
—Jessica Fields, Essence, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stressful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stressful
Adjective
-
Third, operational command of Kamikaze planes is difficult because results cannot be evaluated with any accuracy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, the major drama comes in the form of Ivy’s corruption by her acting coach, as Ivy gradually goes method and becomes as difficult to work with as Marilyn was (one of this musical’s many meta moments).—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But the Lotus ladies will have some tough competition, including seven-time winner Allison Janney, two-time winner Patricia Arquette, and potential double nominee Kaitlyn Dever.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
What tough lessons does Cole learn through the process of getting involved with a patient this season?—
Max Gao,
Variety,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This period in local history is arguably one of the most trying times for the people who lived in McLeod County and Minnesota as a whole.—
Kay Johnson,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Stressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stressful. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share