antidepressant

adjective

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an·ti·de·pres·sant | \ ˌan-tē-di-ˈpre-sᵊnt

, ˌan-ˌtī-

Definition of antidepressant

(Entry 1 of 2)

: used or tending to relieve or prevent depression antidepressant drugs

antidepressant

noun

Definition of antidepressant (Entry 2 of 2)

: an antidepressant drug — see ssri, tricyclic antidepressant

Examples of antidepressant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The risk of suicide is the greatest during the first month of antidepressant treatment. — Dr. Yalda Safai, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2021 Psychedelics are believed to produce their antidepressant effects by interfering with negative and isolating thought patterns, instead encouraging larger and more expansive feelings of connectedness with other people, nature, or both. — Erin Brodwin, STAT, 18 Apr. 2021 The second group also took a daily dose of escitalopram — the generic version of the antidepressant Lexapro — a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. — Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 14 Apr. 2021 In some cases, antidepressant medications can initially increase suicidal thoughts, especially in those below age 25. — Dr. Yalda Safai, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2021 Anna — who was hospitalized and put on antidepressant medication — is now home, going to therapy and in a much better place. — Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2021 In more extreme cases, talk to your vet about pharmaceutical grade anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs formulated for dogs. — Richard A. Marini, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Mar. 2021 Contact your doctor, describe your depression and exhaustion, and ask for advice regarding possible treatments, including antidepressant medication. — Amy Dickinson, Star Tribune, 25 Jan. 2021 Not so fast Around 2016-2017, young psychiatrists like myself were rushing to implement these novel antidepressant treatments. — Nicholas Mischel, oregonlive, 22 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun But now researchers will compare its effectiveness against ivermectin as well as fluvoxamine, an antidepressant. — Jeremy Olson, Star Tribune, 21 May 2021 Yeah, this coffee had a weight loss drug and an antidepressant in it. — Mike Wehner, BGR, 12 May 2021 Currently available antidepressant medications, like fluoxetine and duloxetine, affect the amount of neurotransmitters circulating in the brain, such as serotonin. — Stav Dimitropoulos, SELF, 29 Apr. 2021 There is no more accessible, affordable and effective antidepressant than physically moving. — Barton Goldsmith, Star Tribune, 12 Mar. 2021 Particularly of note is the fact that the study assessed the effects of psilocybin against an antidepressant rather than a placebo, as previous studies have done. — Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2021 In France, ibogaine was sold and prescribed as an antidepressant and stimulant called Lambarene for more than 30 years until the 1960s, when the government outlawed the sale of ibogaine. — Mandy Oaklander, Time, 5 Apr. 2021 Could a decades-old antidepressant be a secret weapon against COVID-19? — Esther Landhuis, Star Tribune, 1 Apr. 2021 The drug, fluvoxamine, is an early selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor — a common type of antidepressant, similar to Prozac or Zoloft — developed in the 1980s. — Erin Alberty, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antidepressant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

4 May 2021

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“Antidepressant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antidepressant. Accessed 16 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for antidepressant

antidepressant

noun

English Language Learners Definition of antidepressant

medical : a drug that is used to relieve or prevent depression in a person

See the full definition for antidepressant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

antidepressant

adjective

an·ti·de·pres·sant | \ ˌant-i-di-ˈpres-ᵊnt, ˌan-ˌtī-

variants: also antidepressive \ -ˈpres-iv

Medical Definition of antidepressant

(Entry 1 of 2)

: used or tending to relieve or prevent psychological depression : relating to, being, or utilizing an antidepressant an antidepressant drug antidepressant treatment

antidepressant

noun

variants: also antidepressive

Medical Definition of antidepressant (Entry 2 of 2)

: a drug used to treat psychological depression : an antidepressant drug The dual-action antidepressant venlafaxine appears to demonstrate superior efficacy and higher rates of remission in severe depression as compared with either SSRIs such as fluoxetine or tricyclic antidepressants.— John Mann, The New England Journal of Medicine, 27 Oct. 2005

— called also energizer, psychic energizer, psychostimulant

— see tricyclic antidepressant