depressing

adjective

de·​press·​ing di-ˈpre-siŋ 

dē-

: that depresses

especially : causing emotional depression

a depressing story

depressingly

di-ˈpre-siŋ-lē 

dē-

adverb

Synonyms of depressing

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

Examples of depressing in a Sentence

This rainy weather is depressing.

He paints a depressing picture of modern life.

Recent Examples on the Web

Floyd’s sincerity, the startling extremity of his concern for the comfort of others, snaps Clark out of his depressed, and depressing, complacency. —Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026

That’s already a depressing number. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026

Dede Ayite’s costume design nails each character, from Catherine’s slouchy, depressing sweats-and-flannels to Claire’s chic, New York casual-glam. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026

Five years ago, a tragic and depressing environmental story unfolded when thousands of giant sequoia trees, an iconic California species that tower 300 feet high and can live for 3,000 years, were killed during multiple large wildfires that roared across the southern Sierra Nevada. —Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for depressing

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