depressed

1 of 2

adjective

de·​pressed di-ˈprest 

dē-

1

: low in spirits : sad

especially : affected by psychological depression

2

a

: vertically flattened

a depressed cactus

b

: having the central part lower than the margin

c

: lying flat or prostrate

d

: dorsoventrally flattened

3

: suffering from economic depression

especially : underprivileged

living in a depressed area

4

: being below the standard

Prices remain at a depressed level.

depressed

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of depress

Synonyms of depressed

Adjective

• concave
• hollow
• sunken

Examples of depressed in a Sentence

Adjective

The rainy weather had her feeling lonely and depressed.

He was depressed about having to return to school.

The new drug is being tested on a group of severely depressed patients.

living in a depressed area

The patient has a somewhat depressed appetite.

Prices have remained at a depressed level.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The financial loss left Walker depressed, anguished and possibly suicidal. — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

In other words, support for white nationalism was higher among people living in more distressed or economically depressed places. — James Bisbee, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026

My idea of Sweden was based entirely on Scandi-noir dramas, all bleak landscapes, depressed people and woolly jumpers. — Natasha Langan, TheWeek, 29 Sep. 2026

Occasionally, the suicide seems to be spur of the moment; a depressed person sees a high section without a guardrail and goes over. — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing depressed

• clinically depressed

Rhymes for depressed

• acquiesced
• coalesced
• dispossessed
• manifest
• overdressed
• overstressed
• prepossessed
• reassessed
• reinvest
• repossessed
• unaddressed
• uncompressed

Kids Definition

depressed

adjective

de·​pressed

1

a

: low in spirits : sad

b

: suffering from mental depression

2

: suffering from economic depression

Medical Definition

depressed

adjective

de·​pressed di-ˈprest 

1

: low in spirits

specifically : affected by psychological depression

a severely depressed patient

2

a

: having the central part lower than the margin

a depressed pustule

b

: dorsoventrally flattened

the tapeworm is a depressed animal

—R. A. Wardle & J. A. McLeod