Stresser

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A component or situation that leads to emotional, mental, or physical strain in an individual
2. An influence or variable that generates tension, unease, or stress, impacting one’s well-being
3. An element or cause that produces mental or physical pressure in a person

Etymology: "Stresser" is a plain formation: the noun "stress" with the agent suffix "-er," which turns a verb or noun into a word for a thing or person that does the action. Here the "-er" marks something that produces stress, so a stresser is whatever puts someone under strain, whether a demanding job, a looming deadline, or a noisy household. The base word has traveled a long way. "Stress" came into English from Old French "estresse" (narrowness, distress), itself from Latin "strictus," meaning drawn tight, which is also the source of "strict." Early English uses of "stress" meant hardship or adversity, and the sense of strain on a physical object (a beam bearing a load) and of mental pressure developed from there. The modern term is a straightforward extension of that long-established meaning.

Synonyms: pressure, strain

Antonyms: relaxation, calm