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

Republicans fear depressed turnout among their supporters in Texas could jeopardize their control of the Senate seat. — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Simply put, a rain garden is a depressed bed planted with native perennials and shrubs selected for their high-water tolerance. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

When the switch is depressed, the capacitance between the conductive element and the capacitive sensor pad on the PCB beneath it increases as the conductive element moves closer to the sensor pad. — ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026

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