depress

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verb

Definition of DEPRESS

1

to make sad <the thought of once again failing the bar exam depressed me>

Synonyms bum (out), burden, dash, deject, get down, oppress, sadden, weigh down

Related Words ail, distress, trouble; afflict, torment, torture; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, get down, unnerve; agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, disturb, exercise, freak (out), perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry

Near Antonyms animate, enliven, invigorate; assure, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe; excite, inspire, stimulate; elate, exhilarate; encourage, hearten; delight, gratify, please; boost, elevate, lift, uplift

Antonyms brighten, buoy, cheer (up), gladden, lighten, rejoice

2

to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally <construction workers depressed the roadbed in order to make way for an overpass>

Synonyms depress, lower, throw, throw down

Related Words flatten, floor, level; knock down, knock over, strike down, topple; plop, plunk down; bobble, bungle, foozle, fumble; immerse, sink, submerge

Antonyms lift, pick up, raise

3

to diminish the price or value of <the glut of wheat on the market has depressed that commodity for most of the past year>

Synonyms attenuate, break, cheapen, depress, devaluate, devalue, downgrade, lower, mark down, reduce, sink, write down, write off

Related Words debase, demonetize; underestimate, underprice, underrate, undervalue; abridge, compress, contract, de-escalate, deflate, downsize, dwindle, lessen, moderate, shrink

Near Antonyms bloat, blow up, inflate; overestimate, overprice, overrate, overvalue; add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, compound, dilate, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, heighten, increase, maximize, multiply, raise, swell, up

Antonyms appreciate, enhance, mark up, upgrade

4

to push steadily against with some force <depressed the lever to start the machine>

Synonyms bear (down on), depress, shove, weigh (on or upon)

Related Words compress, mash, punch, squash, squeeze, squish, squoosh; compel, force, pressure; lean (on or against), muscle; drive, propel, thrust; compact, condense, constrict, contract, crush, scrunch, wring; cram, jam, jam-pack, pack, stuff, wedge