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Definition of stressful

stressful

/ˈstrɛsfəl/
stress · ful
Adverb:stressfully
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stressful Lexical Profile

stressful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Causing mental or emotional strain, tension, or anxiety.

Example

"Moving to a new city while starting a demanding job can be a highly stressful experience."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for stressful
Antonyms
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• Rhymes for stressful

• Nearby Words

stressbuster
stressbusting
stressed
stressful
stressfully
stressfulness
stressless

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-19th century from the noun 'stress' (ultimately from Old French 'estrece', meaning 'narrowness or oppression', and Latin 'strictus', meaning 'drawn tight') combined with the suffix '-ful'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Stressful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/stressful
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