Word
stressful
Phoneticsstress·ful, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɹɛsfəɫ/
UK/stɹˈɛsfəl/
Definition
adj. making you feel worried or anxious because of too much work or difficult problems.
adj. causing mental or emotional tension; often used to describe environments or events that demand high levels of effort or resilience.
Examples
“Moving to a new house is very stressful.”
“The hospital staff worked long hours in a stressful environment during the peak of the flu season.”
“While some people thrive under pressure, most find that a consistently stressful workplace leads to burnout and a significant decline in overall productivity.”
Examples
simple
“Moving to a new house is very stressful.”
contextual
“The hospital staff worked long hours in a stressful environment during the peak of the flu season.”
complex
“While some people thrive under pressure, most find that a consistently stressful workplace leads to burnout and a significant decline in overall productivity.”
Pitfall
I am very stressful about my exams.
I am very stressed about my exams.
Use 'stressful' for the situation (the exam) and 'stressed' for your feelings.
Etymology
From stress + -ful.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/stressful