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Showing results for stressful.
Definitions

stressful

[stres-fuhl] / ˈstrɛs fəl /
ADJECTIVE
nerve-racking
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoying trying
WEAK
aggravating disquieting disturbing exasperating irksome irritating maddening taxing tense upsetting
ADJECTIVE
on edge
Synonyms
WEAK
agitated anxious apprehensive beside oneself bundle of nerves edgy excited fidgety high-strung hyper impatient in a tizzy jittery jumpy nerve-racking nervous nervous wreck overanxious restless unnerved uptight wired worried wound-up
ADJECTIVE
taxing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
demanding disturbing onerous tedious troublesome trying
STRONG
enervating exacting punishing sapping tiring wearing
WEAK
difficult exigent grievous heavy oppressive tough wearisome weighty
Antonyms
STRONGEST
easy facile trivial
WEAK
untroubling
ADJECTIVE
tense
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitated anxious apprehensive edgy excited jittery nervous restive shaky strained uneasy
STRONG
choked clutched concerned moved moving shot unnerved wired worried worrying wreck
WEAK
beside oneself bundle of nerves fidgety fluttery high-strung hung up hyper in a tizzy jumpy nerve-racking nervous wreck on edge overanxious overwrought queasy restless shot to pieces strung-out unquiet up the wall uptight white knuckled wound-up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm composed easygoing laid-back unafraid unworried
STRONG
happy untroubled
WEAK
limp limpid loose relaxed slack uncaring
ADJECTIVE
trying
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arduous demanding irritating strenuous taxing tricky troublesome upsetting vexing
STRONG
aggravating annoying exacting exasperating fatiguing rough
WEAK
exigent hard irksome onerous oppressive pestilent provocative severe sticky tight tiresome tough wearisome weighty
Antonyms
STRONGEST
easy facile
WEAK
mild moderate unstressful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She said that she had a marine biology assignment due Friday and a midterm Monday in an evolutionary medicine course, and that she had not saved the readings offline, making for “a stressful morning.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Graduating college and finding a job is an incredibly stressful proposition these days.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

Waiting on reimbursement and knowing that if it doesn’t come you’ll have to pay interest is stressful.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

Positive travel experiences may help reduce that drift toward disorder, while stressful or unsafe travel may push the body in the opposite direction.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

The whole incident took less than two minutes, but it was the longest, most stressful two minutes of my life.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Vocabulary lists containing stressful

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A First Time for Everything

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The Lions of Little Rock

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