noun / verb
stress
Mental or physical strain, or to cause such strain.
A short walk helps me manage stress after a busy day.
Etymology
The older word concerns constraint or pressure. Mental and physical stress extend that pressure to the demands imposed on a person or body.
More examples
- Working two jobs stresses her both mentally and physically.
- Heavy lifting puts stress on your lower back.
- He feels stressed before important meetings.
Forms
stress · stresses · stressed · stressing
stressful adjective — Causing mental or physical strain.
stressor noun — Something that causes mental or physical strain.