1
: constraining force or influence: such as
a
: a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part
especially
: the intensity of this mutual force commonly expressed in pounds per square inch
b
: the deformation caused in a body by such a force
c
: a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation
d
: a state resulting from a stress
especially
: one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium
job-related stress
3
archaic
: intense effort or exertion
4
: intensity of utterance given to a speech sound, syllable, or word producing relative loudness
5
a
: relative force or prominence of sound in verse
b
: a syllable having relative force or prominence
6
stressed; stressing; stresses
1
: to subject to physical or psychological stress
stressing the equipment
this traffic is stressing me out
2
: to subject to phonetic stress : accent
3
: to lay stress on : emphasize
stressed the importance of teamwork
: to feel stress
stressing about the big exam
—often used with out
Synonyms
Examples of stress in a Sentence
Noun
She uses meditation as a way of reducing stress.
Hormones are released into the body in response to emotional stress.
She is dealing with the stresses of working full-time and going to school.
He talked about the stresses and strains of owning a business.
Carrying a heavy backpack around all day puts a lot of stress on your shoulders and back.
To reduce the amount of stress on your back, bend your knees when you lift something heavy.
The ship's mast snapped under the stress of high winds.
measuring the effects of stresses on the material
Verb
The union stressed the need for stricter safety standards.
The risks involved in the procedure should be stressed.
Some people stress the second syllable of “harassment,” while others stress the first.
When she said, “We need lots of money,” she stressed the word “lots.”
It's not an important decision and it isn't worth stressing over.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 14 Nov. 2024
The next step will be on establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between stress and belief systems.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Second, Miller stresses that the betting markets, including PredictIt, are biased toward the Republicans.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stress 
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Noun
Do yourself a solid, get a few, and take some of the stress out of holiday travel this season.
—Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 14 Nov. 2024
The next step will be on establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between stress and belief systems.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
These findings, the scientists stressed, could have major effects on how people control problematic mosquito vectors like Aedes aegypti, which infect hundreds of millions of people with disease-causing viruses every year.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Second, Miller stresses that the betting markets, including PredictIt, are biased toward the Republicans.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stress
Articles Related to stress
Dictionary Entries Near stress
Cite this Entry
“Stress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stress. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stress
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a force that acts when one body or part of a body presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to squeeze or twist another body or part of a body
b
: the change in shape caused in a body by such a force
c
: a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be involved in causing some diseases
also
: a state of tension resulting from a stress
3
: relative force or loudness of sound
"finally" has the stress on the first syllable
stressless
adjective
-ləs
stress
2 of 2 verb1
: to subject to physical or emotional stress
stressing the equipment
this traffic is stressing me out
2
: to pronounce with stress
stress the last syllable
3
: emphasize
stressed the importance of teamwork
4
: to feel stress
stressing about the big test
Medical Definition
stress
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part
especially
: the intensity of this mutual force commonly expressed in pounds per square inch
b
: the deformation caused in a body by such a force
2
a
: a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation
b
: a state of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium
3
: the force exerted between teeth of the upper and lower jaws during mastication
stress
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to subject to stress
a patient stressed by surgery
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