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
Now on discount for $85, this kit is a great deal—not to mention a heck of a lot less expensive than a stressful trip to the vet.
—
Molly Higgins, Wired News, 8 July 2025
Being a full-time caregiver is wearing as well as stressful.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 5 July 2025
The more pleasant environment, which was planned in consultation with dispatchers, includes noise dampening, an on-site gym, and private spaces to decompress from stressful incidents.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
Often, the tendency to cheat has been attributed to the stressful nature of such work.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stressful
Molly Higgins, Wired News, 8 July 2025
Being a full-time caregiver is wearing as well as stressful.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 5 July 2025
The more pleasant environment, which was planned in consultation with dispatchers, includes noise dampening, an on-site gym, and private spaces to decompress from stressful incidents.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
Often, the tendency to cheat has been attributed to the stressful nature of such work.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stressful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stressful
Adjective
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Speaking with director Joe Johnston, Oka explained the two most difficult things to simulate digitally at the time were human skin and water.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
15 July 2025
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They are often considered the most beautiful irises but can be difficult to grow.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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With one out, however, Ohtani was thrown at the plate trying to score from third on Pages’ chopper up the line — making an aggressive, but proper, read in a game in which the Dodgers had long before conceded that runs would be tough to come by.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
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The tough part is deciding between a leather sofa or a plush number made with performance fabric.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Stressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stressful. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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