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

Researchers have found that after these events, antidepressant use rises among teenagers living near a school shooting. — Vishal R. Patel, Time, 9 Aug. 2026

According to Patrick, Lindsay was admitted to an inpatient program at McLean Hospital in early January 2023 but was released after five days and given another antidepressant prescription. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Noun

In September 2022, Lindsay sought care for anxiety and was ultimately prescribed an antidepressant, her ex-husband Patrick Clancy testified in a Massachusetts courtroom on July 27. — Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

People on antidepressants saw activity boosts in their left hippocampus, which is involved in memory and stress regulation, along with the right middle occipital gyrus, which is a visual processing area. — Korin Miller, Allure, 21 Aug. 2026

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