stressed
strehst
Stressed (adj) means feeling mental or emotional strain. Example: “He felt stressed before the interview and could not eat any breakfast.”
adj
1
Feeling mental or emotional strain.
"He felt stressed before the interview and could not eat any breakfast."
"Too many deadlines left the whole team tired and stressed."
"She's been stressed about the exam all week."
2
Pronounced with emphasis, as a syllable in a word.
"In the word 'banana', the second syllable is the stressed one."
"Learners often forget to say the stressed part of a word more loudly."
"The stressed syllable in 'record' changes depending on whether it's a noun or verb."
How to use stressed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling under pressure, or (in language) a syllable spoken with extra emphasis.
Common pairings
stressed out
stressed syllable
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more stressed
- Superlative
- most stressed
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He felt _____ before the interview and could not eat any breakfast.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for stressed
blessed
dressed
pressed
assessed
obsessed
recessed
depressed
professed
repressed
possessed
oppressed
impressed
See all rhymes for stressed →
Frequently asked questions
What does “stressed” mean?
The word “stressed” means feeling mental or emotional strain. In plain terms, feeling under pressure, or (in language) a syllable spoken with extra emphasis.
How do you pronounce “stressed”?
“Stressed” is pronounced strehst (/stɹɛst/ in IPA).
How do you use “stressed” in a sentence?
Here is “stressed” used in a sentence: “She's been stressed about the exam all week.”
What is another word for “stressed”?
Words with a similar meaning to “stressed” include harassed, harried and tried.
What is the opposite of “stressed”?
The opposite of “stressed” — its antonyms — is unstressed.
What part of speech is “stressed”?
“Stressed” is an adjective.
Is “stressed” a common word?
“Stressed” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “stressed” have?
“Stressed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling mental or emotional strain.
What is the difference between "stressed" and "anxious"?
"Stressed" describes feeling mental or emotional strain, usually from pressure, demands, or having too much to handle. "Anxious" describes worry or unease about something uncertain, so stress often comes from a present load while anxiety comes from apprehension about what may happen.
What is the difference between "stressed" and "stressed out"?
"Stressed" and "stressed out" both mean feeling strain, but "stressed out" is more informal and emphasises being overwhelmed. "Stressed out" is common in casual speech, while "stressed" suits both everyday and more neutral contexts.
What is the difference between "stressed" and "strained"?
"Stressed" usually refers to a person feeling mental or emotional pressure. "Strained" more often describes something stretched or under physical or relational tension, as in a strained muscle or strained relations.
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