Synonyms of depressing

depressing 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈpre-siŋ 

1

as in bleak

causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer

the depressing atmosphere of the empty mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bleak
• depressive
• somber
• dark
• lonely
• desolate
• solemn
• darkening
• morbid
• depressed
• cold
• murky
• gray
• miserable
• lonesome
• sad
• gloomy
• morose
• blue
• black
• dismal
• cheerless
• funereal
• wretched
• dreary
• chill
• glum
• dire
• lugubrious
• disconsolate
• oppressive
• sullen
• elegiac
• melancholy
• forlorn
• cloudy
• drear
• saturnine
• comfortless
• sepulchral
• unhappy
• discouraging
• desperate
• godforsaken
• dreich
• dispiriting
• disheartening
• distressing
• negative
• dull
• hopeless
• melancholic
• upsetting
• grim
• tenebrous
• dismaying
• plutonian
• mournful
• dim
• dejected
• distressful
• woebegone
• sunless
• pessimistic
• tenebrific
• despondent
• woeful
• mirthless
• Cimmerian
• low
• inconsolable
• menacing
• sorrowful
• droopy
• discomfiting
• lamentable
• down
• drab
• hangdog
• dour
• plaintive
• threatening
• colorless
• lowering
• lowery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• comforting
• bright
• cheerful
• cheery
• friendly
• gay
• festive
• joyous
• cordial
• sunshiny
• joyful
• buoyant
• jolly
• gay
• merry
• optimistic
• blithe
• encouraging
• mirthful
• heartwarming
• hopeful
• cheering
• blithesome
• lighthearted
• jocund
• lightsome

2

as in sad

causing unhappiness

more depressing news about the famine overseas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sad
• pathetic
• heartbreaking
• melancholy
• unfortunate
• mournful
• disturbing
• saddening
• tearful
• dismal
• dreary
• drear
• teary
• sorry
• heartrending
• distressful
• distressing
• deplorable
• lamentable
• disquieting
• moving
• discomforting
• discouraging
• perturbing
• touching
• dispiriting
• woeful
• disheartening
• poignant
• affecting
• grievous
• discomposing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• happy
• glad
• cheery
• inspiring
• uplifting
• stimulating
• heartening
• pleasant
• stirring
• delightful
• enjoyable
• satisfying
• welcome
• cheering
• agreeable
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• heartwarming
• exhilarating
• thrilling

depressing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of depress

1

as in saddening

to make sad

the thought of once again failing the bar exam depressed me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• saddening
• troubling
• worrying
• oppressing
• torturing
• burdening
• weighing down
• distressing
• dejecting
• concerning
• bumming (out)
• disturbing
• getting down
• bothering
• upsetting
• disheartening
• dispiriting
• discouraging
• tormenting
• ailing
• dashing
• unsettling
• afflicting
• daunting
• unnerving
• disquieting
• demoralizing
• dismaying
• discomforting
• perturbing
• agitating
• undoing
• exercising
• freaking (out)
• unhinging
• discomposing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exciting
• rejoicing
• comforting
• brightening
• invigorating
• reassuring
• lightening
• cheering (up)
• soothing
• stimulating
• consoling
• enlivening
• assuring
• animating
• inspiring
• encouraging
• exhilarating
• buoying
• gladdening
• gratifying
• uplifting
• pleasing
• solacing
• lifting
• elating
• elevating
• delighting
• heartening
• boosting

2

as in throwing

to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally

construction workers depressed the roadbed in order to make way for an overpass

Synonyms & Similar Words

• throwing
• lowering
• dropping
• throwing down
• flattening
• fumbling
• sinking
• toppling
• striking down
• knocking down
• knocking over
• leveling
• bungling
• flooring
• plopping
• plunking down
• submerging
• immersing
• foozling
• bobbling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• raising
• lifting
• picking up

3

as in reducing

to diminish the price or value of

the glut of wheat on the market has depressed that commodity for most of the past year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reducing
• lowering
• sinking
• attenuating
• devaluing
• shrinking
• devaluating
• depreciating
• writing down
• cheapening
• downgrading
• writing off
• marking down
• breaking
• debasing
• demonetizing
• deflating
• undervaluing
• downsizing
• dwindling
• compressing
• underrating
• underestimating
• lessening
• moderating
• contracting
• abridging
• underpricing
• de-escalating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enhancing
• appreciating
• upgrading
• inflating
• marking up
• bloating
• blowing up
• increasing
• adding
• swelling
• escalating
• expanding
• multiplying
• augmenting
• enlarging
• raising
• amplifying
• boosting
• extending
• overestimating
• compounding
• maximizing
• heightening
• dilating
• overrating
• overvaluing
• overpricing
• aggrandizing
• ballooning
• upping

4

as in pressing

to push steadily against with some force

depressed the lever to start the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pressing
• shoving
• compressing
• bearing (down on)
• weighing (on or upon)
• compelling
• squeezing
• punching
• forcing
• pressuring
• squashing
• mashing
• leaning (on or against)
• squooshing
• squishing
• thrusting
• propelling
• constricting
• condensing
• driving
• crushing
• muscling
• wedging
• compacting
• contracting
• jamming
• wringing
• jam-packing
• packing
• cramming
• scrunching
• stuffing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of depressing

Adjective

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

Verb

The problem is that too many teachers are failing to motivate students, and the peer effect can go both ways, depressing student achievement in places where ambition isn’t valued. — Mike Goldstein, The Atlantic, 25 June 2026

Problem properties can create economic and fiscal challenges, including depressing neighboring property values, straining fire and police resources and increasing the risk of arson and violent crime. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2026