manic-depressive

adjective

man·​ic-de·​pres·​sive ˌma-nik-di-ˈpre-siv 

: characterized by or affected with either mania or depression or alternating mania and depression (as in bipolar disorder)

manic-depressive noun

Examples of manic-depressive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Everything is fine and dandy until Meadow spends the weekend at home, leaving Noah to deal with her manic-depressive roommate, Caitlin. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026

The writer-director is currently developing a feature about a male friendship destroyed by manic-depressive illness as well as a miniseries. — Alissa Simon, Variety, 3 July 2025

Long before this, he had also been diagnosed as having manic-depressive bipolar disorder. — Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2023

Bipolar disorder is a manic-depressive illness of the brain that causes extreme changes in mood and energy levels, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. — Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

manic + depressive entry 1, after German manisch-depressiv

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for manic-depressive

• aggressive
• compressive
• concessive
• depressive
• excessive
• expressive
• impressive
• obsessive
• oppressive
• possessive
• progressive
• recessive

Medical Definition

manic-depressive

1 of 2 adjective

man·​ic-de·​pres·​sive ˌman-ik-di-ˈpres-iv 

: characterized by or affected with either mania or depression or alternating mania and depression (as in bipolar disorder)

manic-depressive

2 of 2 noun

: a manic-depressive individual