stressed
She felt stressed before her job interview.
She experienced significant mental pressure due to the upcoming interview.
suffering mental or emotional strain
The students were stressed about their final exams.
The students felt anxious and under pressure because of the upcoming exams.
Commonly used to describe feelings of anxiety, pressure, or tension, often due to work, school, or personal challenges.
emphasizing importance or significance
This is stressed as the most important point in the document.
This point is emphasized as the most crucial one.
Less common; primarily used in formal writing or speech to highlight priority.
Collocations
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Common Mistakes
Do not confuse 'stressed' (feeling strain) with 'stressful' (causing strain). 'Stressed' describes the person's state, while 'stressful' describes the situation (e.g., 'a stressful job' vs. 'I feel stressed').
Gold Rule
Stressed vs. Stressful
'Stressed' describes a person's emotional state (e.g., 'She is stressed'), while 'stressful' describes a situation (e.g., 'The meeting was stressful').
Word Origin
From Middle English 'stresse' (distress, pressure), from Old French 'estresse' (narrowness, oppression), from Vulgar Latin '*strictia' (a tightening), from Latin 'strictus' (drawn tight, rigid), past participle of 'stringere' (to draw tight). The verb sense emerged in the 19th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in everyday speech to describe feelings of pressure or anxiety. Often paired with 'out' in informal contexts (e.g., 'stressed out'). Avoid confusing with the verb 'stress' (to emphasize) unless context clarifies.