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

The glow through the translucent stone façade prevents that journey from being downright depressing. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 29 July 2026

The dark, depressing story was revitalized, with a new lead character, on-screen marital issues, explosive action, and one of the most charismatic and interesting villains ever put to screen. — Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Verb

Bukayo Saka — England/Arsenal Saka suffers a little here from Mikel Arteta’s tactical approach depressing the final third production of all Arsenal’s attackers. — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 11 June 2026

Each is separately spring-loaded, depressing four millimeters at most (though they can be actuated with as little as two millimeters of travel) before bouncing back with a confirming click. — Literary Hub, 19 May 2026