1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the depressing atmosphere of the empty mall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
causing unhappiness
more depressing news about the famine overseas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in saddening
to make sad
the thought of once again failing the bar exam depressed me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in pressing
to push steadily against with some force
depressed the lever to start the machine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of depressing
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 15 Aug. 2025
Our depressing slide into sclerotic autocracy continues.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Isn’t the world depressing enough right now without having to see that?
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for depressing
Adjective
Gambling today, however, is a sad and depressing experience, nothing like my dad’s and my Atlantic City adventure.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 15 Aug. 2025
Our depressing slide into sclerotic autocracy continues.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
At the moment, however, inflation remains higher than hoped and the affordability crunch continues depressing aspiring homebuyers' chances of getting on the property ladder.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Isn’t the world depressing enough right now without having to see that?
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for depressing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depressing
Adjective
-
Matters only got more bleak in the sixth, when Rushing fouled a ball off his right shin, smoking a ball right above where his guard ended and immediately going down in pain.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The one constant is the unhappy couple’s bleak surroundings.—
Adam Solomons,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But now, the King and the royal family have received very sad news that will change things going forward.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Shooting scenes in wide or medium shots that sometimes break into Hsiao-Lee’s harrowing point-of-view, cinematographer Yu Jing-Pin depicts a world without much color or hope, while sets by Huang Mei-Ching and Tu Shuo-Feng emphasize a sad and impoverished existence.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The news was saddening for Jewell — but also alarming for the defense.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
More Getty Images Purdy certainly did not play his best football last year, throwing for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The messages contained information only someone close to Lauryn would have known, throwing twist into the mystery.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The French prime minister was widely expected to lose the motion after failing to win support from political rivals on both the right and left for 2026 budget plans aimed at reducing the country's yawning budget deficit.—
Ganesh Rao,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
-
At Tufts University, scientists have developed a new drug that aims to boost weight loss while also reducing the nausea, muscle loss and weight regain associated with popular GLP-1 medications.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dredge in the breadcrumbs, pressing lightly to adhere.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
-
There doesn’t seem to be an obvious disruptive equivalent in his early 20s, when Djokovic started pressing Federer and Nadal.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In women at risk of postpartum depression, changes in peripartum levels of the neurosteroid have been associated with depressive symptoms.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
-
It is largely characterized by manic episodes (periods of elation and hyperactivity), which are then followed by depressive episodes (sadness and depression).—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The end of that era came slowly, through the pathetic collapse of Syria and Lebanon as functioning states, and then quickly, when Israel began touching Hezbollah in unexpected places.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Want the poop on this pathetic history?—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Depressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depressing. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share