de·pres·sive
di-ˈpre-siv 
dē-
1
: tending to depress
2
: of, relating to, marked by, or affected by psychological depression
depressive symptoms
a depressive patient
depressively
adverb
: one who is affected with or prone to psychological depression
Examples of depressive in a Sentence
Adjective
the depressive story about a struggling artist
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
Of course as their cross-country road trip progresses and Felice racks up first-round-loss after first-round-loss, Gatti’s louche lifestyle is revealed to have a darker, more depressive aspect.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
The only things shaky about Relish are the junkies, prostitutes, suicidal depressives, and sinners who populate Osborne's songs.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for depressive
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Adjective
As someone who has never been swayed by Gad’s particular brand of obnoxiously chipper humor, Noah’s depressive snark finds him in a much more comfortable register.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
Of course as their cross-country road trip progresses and Felice racks up first-round-loss after first-round-loss, Gatti’s louche lifestyle is revealed to have a darker, more depressive aspect.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
This two-part film dedicates stories to two seemingly polar-opposite sisters: the depressive, defeated Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and the controlling, judgmental Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg).
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
The only things shaky about Relish are the junkies, prostitutes, suicidal depressives, and sinners who populate Osborne's songs.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for depressive
Cite this Entry
“Depressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depressive. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
depressive
1 of 2 adjective
de·pres·sive
di-ˈpres-iv
1
: tending to depress
2
: of, relating to, marked by, or affected by psychological depression
the patient was paranoid and depressive
depressive symptoms
depressive
2 of 2 noun
: one who is affected with or prone to psychological depression
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