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
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Recent Examples of stressful
Road trips or destinations with outdoor access are preferred, though traveling can be stressful for some pets.
—
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Research shows stepping away from work – especially when left with no alternatives – can be both emotionally and financially stressful for women.
—Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Learning these important skills takes practice to feel comfortable at any age, but doing so will help turn intimidating medical appointments into more efficient and productive — and less stressful — visits.
—Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Losing or leaving a job is already stressful enough without worrying about when your last paycheck will show up.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stressful
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Research shows stepping away from work – especially when left with no alternatives – can be both emotionally and financially stressful for women.
—Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Learning these important skills takes practice to feel comfortable at any age, but doing so will help turn intimidating medical appointments into more efficient and productive — and less stressful — visits.
—Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Losing or leaving a job is already stressful enough without worrying about when your last paycheck will show up.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stressful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stressful
Adjective
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The Bulls look to be the best team in the Group of Five conferences, while the Gators and coach Billy Napier are now under pressure with a difficult SEC schedule ahead.—
Erick Smith,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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Usually the final day of boot camp is most difficult.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That’s a tough dichotomy to bridge, but the new 2025 911 Carrera GTS achieves it brilliantly.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
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The tough stainless steel loops are reinforced and designed to remain rust-free even after years of use, and a three number combination lock will be easy to remember and difficult to crack.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Doing the right thing is the right way to inoculate your business against exogenous events, while positioning your brand for sustainable growth in even the most trying of times.—
Michael Ringman,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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But agricultural leaders see this year as one of the industry’s most trying periods, beset by economic and political factors that could significantly reduce production.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stressful. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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