unstressed

American  

[uhn-strest] / ʌnˈstrɛst /

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.

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unstressed British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of unstressed

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 • May 8, 2024

Now imagine yourself in total control of your money, unstressed, thriving, deciding how you’ll spend your credit card cash-back rewards.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2021

Pausing at the unstressed sound in the middle of word, she collected herself, started again, and nailed the second 'e', jumping for joy on stage when told she was correct.

From Reuters • Jul. 9, 2021

Pick a time when you’re both rested and relatively unstressed.

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2021

Feminine Ending, an extra unstressed syllable at the end of an iambic or anapestic line, 71.

From The Principles of English Versification by Baum, Paull Franklin

Related Words

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