antidepressant

1 of 2

adjective

an·​ti·​de·​pres·​sant ˌan-tē-di-ˈpre-sᵊnt  ˌan-ˌtī- 

: used or tending to relieve or prevent depression

antidepressant drugs

antidepressant

2 of 2

noun

: an antidepressant drug see ssri, tricyclic antidepressant

Examples of antidepressant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Serotonin Syndrome Methylene blue interacts with several antidepressant drugs, and the combination can potentially lead to serotonin syndrome, a serious drug reaction caused by high levels of serotonin in the body. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 12 May 2025

More than 12% of adults between ages 45 and 74 did so in 2023, compared with less than 11% of adults ages 18 to 44. US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has specifically targeted a certain class of antidepressant drugs in recent comments. —Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025

Noun

His parents and his widow Gabriella have since all spoken out to raise awareness around the potential side effects of antidepressants. —Janine Henni, People.com, 19 May 2025

This may be one reason that data shows women in midlife are disproportionately being prescribed anti-depressants, despite menopause guidelines stating that antidepressants shouldn’t be the first option for addressing mood swings linked to perimenopause. —Carmen Rios, Flow Space, 14 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1961, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1962, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing antidepressant

• tricyclic antidepressant

Rhymes for antidepressant

• preadolescent
• acquiescent
• adolescent
• arborescent
• coalescent
• convalescent
• deliquescent
• effervescent
• evanescent
• incandescent
• iridescent
• luminescent

Medical Definition

antidepressant

1 of 2 adjective

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

variants also antidepressive

-ˈpres-iv 

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

an antidepressant drug

antidepressant treatment

antidepressant

2 of 2 noun

variants also antidepressive

: 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

called also energizer, psychic energizer, psychostimulant

see tricyclic antidepressant