😌 To relax 🔈 To reduce emphasis

to destress

6.1

Make a syllable or word less strong when you speak

verb
/dɪˈstrɛs/

Specialized

: desenfatizar

In the second syllable, you should destress the vowel to produce a more natural pronunciation.

Examples

The instructor advised the students to destress certain words in the sentence for proper intonation.
Linguists often destress function words when analyzing natural speech patterns.
You should destress after a long day!
She often destresses by going for a walk.
In the second syllable, you should destress the vowel to produce a more natural pronunciation.
The instructor advised the students to destress certain words in the sentence for proper intonation.
Linguists often destress function words when analyzing natural speech patterns.

Synonyms

to tone down

vsto destress

44 3.7

To make something less strong, for example a sound, color or feeling

reduces specific emphasis in speech rather than general intensity

to unstress

vsto destress

6.3

Make a sound in a word weaker or reduce force in a part of an object

focuses mainly on speech pronunciation rather than material stress

to de-emphasize

vsto destress

5.3

Make something seem less important

targets stress in spoken words rather than importance of ideas

Antonyms

to emphasize

397 3.7

To show that something is very important

to stress

286 2.7

To feel pressure and worry because of difficult situations

How Emphasized

to emphasize

397 3.7

to destress

Specialized

6.1

to downplay

59 5.3

Surface Forms

destress infinitive

destressed past

destressed past participle

destressing present participle

destresses third person singular

Morphology

destress = stress (transparent) = de + stress

The meaning is a straightforward reversal or reduction of 'stress' in the sense of giving emphasis.

Etymology

Destress is made from de- 'remove' and stress 'emphasis' or 'pressure'. In speech, to destress a syllable is to take away its strong emphasis so the sound becomes weaker and more natural.