depressing

1 of 2

adjective

de·​press·​ing di-ˈpre-siŋ 

dē-

: that depresses

especially : causing emotional depression

a depressing story

depressingly

di-ˈpre-siŋ-lē 

dē-

adverb

depressing

2 of 2

present participle of depress

Synonyms of depressing

Adjective

• bleak
• depressive
• somber
• dark
• lonely
• desolate
• solemn
• darkening
• morbid
• depressed
• cold
• murky
• gray

Examples of depressing in a Sentence

Adjective

This rainy weather is depressing.

He paints a depressing picture of modern life.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Ruhr Valley, in contrast, might be Europe’s vastest, most depressing suburb. — Kristian Vistrup Madsen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

The Mongolian restaurant is in the city center, dingy and depressing. — Aube Rey Lescure, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2026

Maybe the most vivid reminder was what happened after a similarly depressing defeat in 2021 in the last game in which Mahomes played and the Chiefs managed only a field goal. — Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026

In another depressing week for the UK’s public broadcaster, there were more cuts, talk of even more cuts and programs scrapped, as the BBC’s desperate bid to make the books work continues under former Google EMEA chief Matt Brittin. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1556, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for depressing

• accessing
• addressing
• assessing
• caressing
• compressing
• confessing
• distressing
• expressing
• hairdressing
• impressing
• obsessing
• oppressing