stressful
7 synonyms for stressful, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Causing worry or strain; mentally or emotionally demanding.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use stressful
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
stressful situation
stressful job
less stressful
Etymology
From "stress" plus the adjective suffix "-ful."
Full origin of stressful →Frequently asked questions
What does “stressful” mean?
The word “stressful” means causing worry or strain; mentally or emotionally demanding. In plain terms, something that causes stress or pressure.
How do you pronounce “stressful”?
“Stressful” is pronounced STREHS-fuhl (/ˈstɹɛsfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “stressful” in a sentence?
Here is “stressful” used in a sentence: “Moving house is one of the most stressful experiences people go through.”
What is another word for “stressful”?
Words with a similar meaning to “stressful” include trying.
What part of speech is “stressful”?
“Stressful” is an adjective.
Is “stressful” a common word?
“Stressful” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between stressful and stressed?
Stressful describes something that causes strain, such as a stressful job or deadline. Stressed describes the feeling of the person affected, as in "I feel stressed," so situations are stressful and people are stressed.
Can you call a person 'stressful'?
Normally no, unless you mean the person causes stress in others. A person who is under strain is "stressed," while "stressful" is reserved for the situations, events, or people that produce that strain.
What is the difference between stressful and tense?
Stressful describes something that causes worry or strain over time, like a stressful week. Tense describes a state of nervous tightness in a moment or atmosphere, as in a tense meeting, and can apply to muscles, moods, or situations.
What is the opposite of stressful?
Common opposites include relaxing, calming, and soothing. A situation described this way eases strain rather than creating it.
