unstressed

[ uhn-strest ]

adjective

1. without stress or emphasis, as a syllable in a word.
2. not receiving or subjected to stress, wear, etc.:

   the unstressed parts of a car body.

unstressed

/ ʌnˈstrɛst /

adjective

1. carrying relatively little stress; unemphasized
2. phonetics of, relating to, or denoting the weakest accent in a word or breath group, which in some languages, such as English or German, is also associated with a reduction in vowel quality to a centralized (i) or (a)
3. prosody (of a syllable in verse) having no stress or accent

Word History and Origins

Origin of unstressed¹

First recorded in 1880–85; un- ¹ + stress + -ed ²

Example Sentences

The control group of unstressed mice did not show a change, providing proof of organ dysfunction in the heat-stressed mice.

From Science Daily

Bound together under unstressed conditions, Keap1 releases Nrf2 to do its antioxidant work when needed.

From Science Daily

Working with mice, the researchers first created four test groups: unstressed virgins, stressed virgins, unstressed mothers and stressed mothers.

From Science Daily

However, cortisol levels in unstressed mothers decreased to normal levels after delivery, while the levels in mothers with adverse early life experiences remained high for one to three weeks after birth.

From Science Daily

“Unstressed plants emitted less than one sound per hour, on average, while the stressed plants — both dehydrated and injured — emitted dozens of sounds every hour.”

From Washington Times

Related Words

• dull
• feeble
• low
• poor
• quiet
• small
• thin