depression

noun

di-ˈpre-shən How to pronounce depression (audio)
Definition of depressionnext
1
as in recession
a period of decreased economic activity during the 1930s the U.S. suffered a great depression

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2
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits she called her friend to see if a sympathetic ear would relieve his depression

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3
as in hole
a sunken area forming a separate space the water generally collects in the patchwork of depressions in the city plaza

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4
as in decrease
the amount by which something is lessened a depression in the number of new homes being built

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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 depression Yet research consistently links heavy smartphone and social media use among children and adolescents to poor sleep, anxiety and depression, bullying, attention difficulties and academic challenges. — Elizabeth Dowdell, Fortune, 15 July 2026 Common motor symptoms include tremors, stiffness and slow movement, while non-motor ones include anxiety, depression, sleep problems and fatigue. — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 15 July 2026 Participants report reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms, along with improvements in sleep quality and overall quality of life. — Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 14 July 2026 The debate extends beyond Washington’s oldest figures, highlighting stark contrasts between officials who conceal depression or cognitive decline and those who disclose diagnoses, as voters weigh age, transparency and fitness for office. — Jill Colvin, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for depression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depression
  1. recession
  2. sadness
  3. hole
  4. decrease
  5. slump
  6. melancholy
  7. pit
  8. reduction
Noun
  • Shriver used her time in Sacramento to revamp the state history museum, build the world’s largest Women’s Conference and launch a program during the recession to provide low-income working families with financial resources.
    — Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • But there are hidden masses among us who need only catch a glimpse of its college-Photoshop cover art—a Statue of Liberty with her dress hiked up, dancing like the recession had just been declared over—to feel an instant shiver of pathos and pain.
    — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 5 July 2026
Definition of recession
Noun
  • The girls spend the day together — Laura has made an entire treasure hunt to celebrate Good Eagle’s birthday — and while there are moments of joy, there’s a lot of sadness weighing down on their tiny shoulders, too.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026
  • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his sadness over the recent deaths in the country’s south.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • Mozeliak said the Angels should not consider a trade proposal in isolation, without considering how to flex their major-market muscles to fill whatever hole a trade might create.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The difference between these two measurements gives the exciton binding energy, a key quantity that determines how strongly the electron and hole remain bound together.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • Within the goods category, gasoline tumbled 12%, accounting for about two-thirds of the monthly decrease.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • While this natural decrease is not unique to Florida, its social, economic and demographic impacts may be more pronounced if the state is no longer a migrant magnet.
    — Matt Brooks, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Definition of decrease
Noun
  • The comments followed lackluster second quarter financials with execs on the defensive as analysts grilled the company on what Wall Street perceives as a bit of a slump.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 July 2026
  • The slump in office leasing also unleashed waves of slumping values, failed property loans and even foreclosures of delinquent mortgages.
    — George Avalos, Mercury News, 16 July 2026
Definition of slump
Noun
  • Beneath all the sensuality and beauty, there’s also a lingering melancholy that feels very familiar to me.
    — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 16 June 2026
  • Don Hertzfeldt occasionally comes to mind for a similarly pervasive mood of questioning, philosophical melancholy.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 12 June 2026
Definition of melancholy
Noun
  • Gather around the smokeless fire pit for s’mores and storytelling, relax in a private hot tub or sauna, or take a dip in the cold-plunge pool.
    — Tree Meinch, Midwest Living, 11 July 2026
  • The available s’mores kits to enjoy by any of the three outdoor fire pits are great, too.
    — Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
Definition of pit
Noun
  • Preliminary findings indicated a measurable reduction in particulate emissions associated with contrail formation when the G800 operated on the fuel.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026
  • More than 800 members of United Steelworkers Local 7-1 are embroiled in a contract fight with BP over pay and job reductions.
    — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
Definition of reduction

Browse Nearby Words

depressing
depression
depressions
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Cite this Entry

“Depression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depression. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on depression

Nglish: Translation of depression for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about depression

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