stressor
gb/stɹˈɛsɚ/ us/stɹˈɛsɚ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
source of psychological stress
Something that makes you feel stressed.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a stressor; a stressor for [someone]; stressors include [things]
Common mistake:
Do not use stressor to mean the feeling of stress or a person who is stressed; it means the cause of stress.
Synonyms
source of stress (clear everyday wording for the same idea)
|
pressure (broader and less technical; can mean the demand itself or the feeling it creates)
|
trigger (often suggests something that starts a reaction, not necessarily an ongoing condition)
Antonyms
support (something that helps reduce stress rather than cause it)
|
relief (the easing or removal of stress rather than its cause)
Collocations
major stressor
|common stressor
|daily stressor
|ongoing stressor
|chronic stressor
|acute stressor
|workplace stressor
|financial stressor
|identify stressors
|reduce stressors
Themes
mental_health
|psychology
|daily_life
|work
|emotions
Examples
- Moving house can be a major stressor, even when the move is positive.
- The counselor helped her identify the main stressors in her life.
- For many parents, lack of sleep is a constant stressor.
Learner examples
- Exams are a stressor for many students.
- Money problems can be a big stressor.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
2
factor stressing an organism
A harmful condition, such as heat, drought, disease, or pollution, that puts pressure on a living thing or system.
Usage pattern:
[stressor] for [organism/system]; [organism/system] is exposed to [a stressor]
Common mistake:
In scientific contexts, stressor means the cause of biological stress, not the stress response itself.
Synonyms
stress factor (more explanatory and common in scientific contexts)
|
adverse stimulus (more technical; emphasizes something that provokes a response)
|
environmental pressure (often used in ecology for external conditions affecting survival or adaptation)
Antonyms
protective factor (a condition that reduces harm or vulnerability)
|
favorable condition (an environmental condition that supports healthy function or growth)
Collocations
environmental stressor
|physical stressor
|physiological stressor
|chemical stressor
|biological stressor
|thermal stressor
|ecological stressor
|stressor exposure
|exposure to stressors
|multiple stressors
Themes
biology
|medicine
|environment
|ecology
|public_health
Examples
- Drought is a serious stressor for crops in this region.
- Researchers exposed the cells to a chemical stressor and measured the response.
- In cities, heat and air pollution often act as combined stressors.
Learner examples
- High heat can be a stressor for plants.
- Pollution is a stressor for many animals.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stressor
IPA
GB/stɹˈɛsɚ/
US/stɹˈɛsɚ/
Syllables & stress
stressor (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stressor)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: stressor
- Plural: stressors
Expressions
acute stressor
1/əkjˈut stɹˈɛsɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
sudden short-term stress source
A stressor that happens suddenly or lasts only a short time.
Examples
- A near-miss on the highway is an acute stressor that can raise your heart rate immediately.
- Participants performed a difficult mental arithmetic task as an acute stressor.
chronic stressor
1/kɹˈɑnɪk stɹˈɛsɚ/
fixed phrase
long-term source of stress
A stressor that continues for a long time.
Examples
- Caring for a sick relative can become a chronic stressor if there is little outside support.
- The study looked at how chronic stressors, such as poverty and unsafe housing, affect sleep.
daily stressor
1/dˈeɪli stɹˈɛsɚ/
fixed phrase
small everyday stress source
A small stressful thing that happens in daily life.
Examples
- Small daily stressors, like traffic and lost keys, can affect your mood.
- The app asks users to record daily stressors and how they respond to them.
environmental stressor
1/ɪnvˌaɪɹənmˈɛntəl stɹˈɛsɚ/
fixed phrase
stressful surrounding condition
Something in the environment that causes stress or harm.
Examples
- Constant traffic noise can be an environmental stressor for people who live near a busy road.
- Drought and high temperatures are environmental stressors for many plants.
financial stressor
1/fɪnˈænʃəl stɹˈɛsɚ/
fixed phrase
money-related stress source
A money problem that makes someone feel stressed.
Examples
- Unexpected medical bills became a major financial stressor for the family.
- Rent increases are a financial stressor for many students.
major life stressor
1/mˈeɪd͡ʒɚ lˈaɪf stɹˈɛsɚ/
fixed phrase
serious stressful life event
A big event or problem in life that causes a lot of stress.
Examples
- Divorce is often described as a major life stressor.
- The program helps employees cope with major life stressors such as bereavement or job loss.
psychosocial stressor
1/sˈaɪkoʊsˌoʊʃəl stɹˈɛsɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
social or psychological stress source
A social or emotional situation that causes stress.
Examples
- Social isolation is a psychosocial stressor linked to poorer health outcomes.
- The assessment considers psychosocial stressors such as discrimination, unemployment, and family conflict.
workplace stressor
1/wˈɚkplˌeɪs stɹˈɛsɚ/
fixed phrase
business
source of work stress
Something at work that causes stress.
Examples
- Unclear expectations are a common workplace stressor.
- The survey asked staff to rank workplace stressors such as workload, bullying, and shift changes.