feeling under pressure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feeling under pressure" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing a situation where someone is experiencing stress or demands. Example: "She was feeling under pressure to meet the project deadline." Alternative expressions include "feeling stressed" and "under stress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

If we grew up feeling under pressure and pulled on by our parents, we may feel easily overwhelmed or intruded on.

Huffington Post

If you're feeling under pressure and constrained, you'll not perform.

The Guardian - Sport

All this fuss suggests that the leadership is feeling under pressure.

The Economist

Although Ms Dati is a high profile politician, she is not alone in feeling under pressure.

Independent

Richard Klein, the controller of the culture channel BBC4, could be forgiven for feeling under pressure.

The Guardian

The DPP denied she was feeling under pressure over the controversies.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Are you feeling under any pressure to live up to the likes of Lawrence?

The Guardian - Sport

The onerous implications have some members of the media here feeling under more pressure than at any time since the fall of apartheid.

The New York Times

The latter will be feeling under some pressure after scoring just 36 runs in four innings in the recent Test series.

The Guardian - Sport

"We look forward with amusement to explanations by a variety of psychologists and graphologists of how various characteristics ascribed to the PM on the basis of the doodles, such as 'struggling to concentrate'notnot a natural leader', 'struggling to keep control of a confusing world' and 'an unstable man who is feeling under enormous pressure', equally apply to Mr Gates," said the spokesman.

The Guardian

There was a need to provide certainty in teaching cultural diversity with diversity teachers feeling under considerable pressure to provide information.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with specific causes (e.g. "from work", "to perform") to provide clearer context for the reader.

Common error

Do not confuse "feeling under pressure" with physical sensations of weight or touch. While "pressure" can be physical, the specific construction "feeling under pressure" almost exclusively refers to mental stress or social demands.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feeling under pressure" functions as a participial phrase where "feeling" acts as a linking verb followed by the prepositional phrase "under pressure" as a subject complement. According to Ludwig AI, it describes a subjective state of being influenced by external forces.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

3%

Fiction

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feeling under pressure" is a robust and versatile expression in the English language. Ludwig AI indicates that it is widely accepted and used across high-authority platforms to describe psychological strain. It is most frequently found in journalism and scientific research to humanize the effects of deadlines, competition and social expectations. While it is synonymous with being "stressed", it carries a unique nuance of being pushed by a specific external force. Overall, it is a safe and effective choice for both formal writing and everyday conversation when describing the weight of responsibility or expectation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stressed out

more informal and emphasizes the resulting mental exhaustion

under a lot of stress

a more literal and clinical description of the state

feeling overwhelmed

suggests that the pressure has exceeded the person's ability to cope

feeling the heat

an idiomatic way to describe pressure, often in competitive contexts

experiencing strain

focuses on the wear and tear caused by the pressure

pushed to the limit

indicates that the pressure is at its maximum bearable level

under duress

carries a stronger legal or formal connotation of being forced to act

feeling squeezed

often used in financial or time-constraint contexts

feeling constrained

focuses on the lack of freedom or options caused by the pressure

facing high demands

shifts the focus from the internal feeling to the external cause

FAQs

How to use "feeling under pressure" in a sentence?

You can use it as a predicate adjective phrase, for example: "The team was "feeling under pressure" after the recent budget cuts."

What can I say instead of "feeling under pressure"?

Depending on the intensity, you can use "feeling stressed", "under strain", or "burdened".

Is it correct to say "feeling under pressure"?

Yes, it is a perfectly standard and grammatically correct English phrase used to describe psychological stress.

What's the difference between "feeling under pressure" and "feeling stressed"?

While similar, "feeling under pressure" often implies a specific external source or a need to perform, whereas "feeling stressed" is a more general emotional state.