stress 1 of 2

noun

ˈstres How to pronounce stress (audio)
Definition of stressnext
1
as in pressure
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time with a full-time job and her college courses, the young woman is under a lot of stress right now

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in emphasis
a special notice or importance given to something the company's orientation program places considerable stress on workplace safety

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stress

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to worry
to experience concern or anxiety the restaurant manager has a tendency to stress about every little thing that goes wrong

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to emphasize
to make more apparent his bad performance only stressed what I'd been saying all along

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to highlight
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on the doctor stressed the importance of exercise

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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 stress
Noun
Data centers can require substantial and continuous electricity supplies, while battery systems can provide additional flexibility during periods of high demand or grid stress. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 Aimed to melt away stress, the class focuses on releasing tightness in the shoulders, back and hips. — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
The warmer weather also dries out the soil and stresses plants, especially those in drought-prone regions such as the West and the Southwest. — Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026 Weight loss isn’t the only potential benefit, and represents just one part of the story, Jay stressed. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stress
  1. pressure
  2. emphasis
  3. worry
  4. emphasize
  5. highlight
  6. strain
  7. focus
  8. reinforce
Noun
  • The Sun quincunxes Pluto, highlighting where careful effort meets control issues, hidden pressure, or shifting priorities.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The project uses horror and darkly comic genre elements to approach the psychological pressures of motherhood, extending Urban’s interest in personal experience as a route into broader social and political terrain.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of pressure
Noun
  • The investment comes as militaries are placing greater emphasis on electronic warfare, airborne sensing and the ability to operate in environments where communications and radar systems may be contested.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • That was an emphasis in the spring because IU’s first team under DeVries struggled on the glass, ranking 279th in defensive rebounding rate, and finished 14th in defensive efficiency in conference games in the Big Ten.
    — CJ Moore, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of emphasis
Verb
  • Homecoming aside, there’s still the Trawler to worry about, a fact we’re reminded of when another victim turns up on a playground, this time with a pentagram carved into his back and fish corpses shoved into his wounds.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Bessent’s answer indicates that US officials worry going after Chinese banks would be crossing a red line.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of worry
Verb
  • At a high level of abstraction, some scholars emphasize the multiplicity itself as a key aspect of Hinduism.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Since Tiffany’s attacks began, Crowley has moved in Hong’s general direction, emphasizing his requirements—using exclusively renewable energy to power new data centers, building them with union labor—for developers to receive the tax breaks.
    — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of emphasize
Verb
  • In a statement posted on social media, Obama highlighted Parton’s humble roots, colossal impact in music and Hollywood, and her philanthropic work.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Property Masters Guild aims to highlight and elevate the craft of the Property Master by raising awareness, fostering collaboration among craft artisans, educating its members and inspiring future generations of Property Masters.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of highlight
Noun
  • Long before this year’s Iran war saw its home front and world-class air defenses put under unprecedented assault and strain, the United Arab Emirates endured its first drone and missile attacks from the Houthis in Yemen in January 2022.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In April, a right calf strain cost Soto just under three weeks of action.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of strain
Noun
  • Looking at the market reaction, because the meeting minutes reaffirmed the Fed's heightened focus on the inflation side of its dual mandate, markets slightly raised rate hike expectations following the release overnight.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Now his focus is on following in his parents’ footsteps working with the Children’s Institute, an organization that supports children and families.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of focus
Verb
  • The look also pulls from indie sleaze, which Trendalytics reports is up 80% in social buzz, reinforcing the messy, early-2000s finish that defines the trend.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Both formulas pair moisture-drawing glycerin with pea peptide and a trio of ceramides to condition and reinforce dry, stressed hair.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of reinforce

Browse Nearby Words

strenuously
stress
stressed
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Cite this Entry

“Stress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stress. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stress

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stress

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