depressing

1 of 2

adjective

de·​press·​ing di-ˈpre-siŋ 

dē-

: that depresses

especially : causing emotional depression

a depressing story

depressingly

di-ˈpre-siŋ-lē 

dē-

adverb

depressing

2 of 2

present participle of depress

Synonyms of depressing

Adjective

• bleak
• depressive
• somber
• dark
• lonely
• desolate
• solemn
• darkening
• morbid
• depressed
• cold
• murky
• gray

Examples of depressing in a Sentence

Adjective

This rainy weather is depressing.

He paints a depressing picture of modern life.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Climate change, depressing and overwhelming, falls into that category. — Peter Prengaman, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026

Keegan’s first decision at Newcastle as manager in 1992 was to fumigate the depressing training ground. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Romano’s wry, hangdog default demeanor suits his character, Joe, a father of two who’s separated from his wife (Penelope Ann Miller) and living in a depressing motel. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

The simple, rather depressing, and completely overwhelming fact of the matter is that the Marvel Cinematic Universe cannot be ignored, even as superhero fatigue has definitively set in at the global box office. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1556, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for depressing

• accessing
• addressing
• assessing
• caressing
• compressing
• confessing
• distressing
• expressing
• hairdressing
• impressing
• obsessing
• oppressing