an·ti·de·pres·sant
ˌan-tē-di-ˈpre-sᵊnt 
ˌan-ˌtī-
ˌan-ˌtī-
: used or tending to relieve or prevent depression
antidepressant drugs
: an antidepressant drug see ssri, tricyclic antidepressant
Examples of antidepressant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
In a seminal, early 2000s trial funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, about 30% of the study’s participants with depression saw symptoms disappear with their first antidepressant treatment.
—Jamie Ducharme, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026
Other problematic human medications include vitamin D supplements, estrogen creams, antidepressants and other prescription drugs, and recreational drugs including cannabis and amphetamines.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antidepressant
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Adjective
Curiously, the antidepressant effect emerged after the mind-altering experiences and persisted for more than a week, suggesting that ketamine might be doing more than making the patients trip.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
In a seminal, early 2000s trial funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, about 30% of the study’s participants with depression saw symptoms disappear with their first antidepressant treatment.
—Jamie Ducharme, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
Other medication classes, such as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants or tricyclic antidepressants, may also be used depending on individual needs.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026
Other problematic human medications include vitamin D supplements, estrogen creams, antidepressants and other prescription drugs, and recreational drugs including cannabis and amphetamines.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antidepressant
Cite this Entry
“Antidepressant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antidepressant. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
antidepressant
1 of 2 adjective
an·ti·de·pres·sant
ˌant-i-di-ˈpres-ᵊnt, ˌan-ˌtī-
variants
also antidepressive
: 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
John Mann, The New England Journal of Medicinecalled also energizer, psychic energizer, psychostimulant
see tricyclic antidepressantLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
