stress

Compared meaning: worry and tension from pressure (noun).

比较义项：因压力或困难处境而产生的忧虑与紧张（名词）。

• stress 本词

  The general, everyday word for the worry and pressure caused by a difficult situation; used broadly for work, exams, relationships, or daily life.

  最常用、最泛用的词，指困难处境带来的忧虑和压力，广泛用于工作、考试、人际关系或日常生活中。

  Meeting three deadlines this week has caused him a lot of stress.

  这周要赶三个截止日期，给他带来了很大的压力。

• strain

  Emphasizes the tiring, wearing-down effect of prolonged pressure or overwork, often visible in one's health, face, or a relationship; common in 'put a strain on' or 'under strain'.

  强调长期压力或过度劳累所带来的疲惫、消耗的效果，常体现在健康、面容或人际关系上，常见搭配为 put a strain on（给…造成负担）或 under strain（承受压力）。

  The strain of long working hours began to show in his tired, drawn face.

  长时间工作的疲惫，渐渐显现在他憔悴、疲倦的脸上。

Both words mean the mental tension caused by pressure or hardship. Stress is the general, everyday word for anxiety, used in almost any situation. Strain emphasizes the tiring, wearing-down effect of a long-term burden, often seen in one's health or a relationship. Other senses excluded.

这两个词都表示由压力或负担引起的心理紧张，但 stress 更泛指焦虑不安的感觉，几乎适用于任何场合；strain 更强调长期负担带来的疲惫和消耗，常见于身心或关系方面。这里不比较 stress 的“重音、强调”义，也不比较 strain 的“拉伤（肌肉）”“菌株”等其他意思。

Compared meaning: to make something more important or noticeable (verb).

比较义项：强调，赋予（某事物）特别的重要性或使其更突出（动词）。

• emphasize

  The all-purpose, neutral verb for giving something extra importance or attention, in speech, writing, or design, without implying urgency or a warning.

  这是最通用、语气中性的词，用于赋予某事额外的重要性或关注，可用于言语、写作或设计之中，并不暗示紧迫感或警告意味。

  The brochure emphasizes the resort's family-friendly activities and quiet beaches.

  这本宣传册强调了该度假村的亲子活动和安静的海滩。

• stress 本词

  Implies urging listeners not to overlook something important, often about necessity, risk, or caution; common in spoken warnings and instructions.

  强调说话人在敦促听者不要忽视某个重要事项，常与必要性、风险或谨慎有关，多用于口头警告和叮嘱。

  The nurse stressed that patients must finish the entire course of antibiotics.

  护士再三强调病人必须把整个疗程的抗生素吃完。

• accentuate

  Means to make a feature, quality, or contrast that already exists more noticeable, typically something visual or physical; it takes a concrete noun object, never a stated fact or 'that' clause.

  指使已经存在的特征、性质或对比变得更加明显，通常用于外观或具体事物；其后接具体名词宾语，绝不能接以“that”引导的陈述句。

  A well-tailored jacket can accentuate his broad shoulders.

  一件剪裁合身的夹克能让他宽阔的肩膀更加突出。

Emphasize, stress, and accentuate all mean to make something stand out, but they differ. Emphasize is neutral, common. Stress means urging people not to ignore something important. Accentuate means making an existing feature more noticeable. Stress as a noun for pressure is not compared here.

这三个词都表示“强调”或使某事物更引人注意，但侧重点和场合不同：emphasize 语气中性、用途最广；stress 多用于口头敦促或警示，暗示该事不可忽视；accentuate 侧重让已经存在的具体特征或对比变得更明显，且只能接具体名词宾语，不能接以“that”引导的陈述句。这里只比较 stress 的动词“强调”义，不涉及它作名词表示“压力、紧张”的常见用法。