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 The researchers still aren’t sure whether these cases of depression are caused by, or simply associated with, problems with circadian rhythm. — Payal Dhar, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026 Without change, prediction markets could supercharge mental health and addiction issues – fueling anxiety, depression, loneliness, financial distress, and even suicide mortalities and ideation. — Amy L. Kennedy, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026 No wonder there are almost always flies buzzing around the depression, not to mention crunchy beetles and spiders that come to hunt the other invertebrates. — Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026 The results on the index reveal that nearly 1 in 4 Ukrainians suffer from high levels of stress characterized by concentration problems, depression, irritability, distrust, physical weakness and other physical problems. — Gerard Toal, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 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
  • Elsewhere, deadly attacks continued and Ukraine's central bank warned that damage to industrial targets could push the country into a recession.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
  • States typically respond to a recession by drawing down reserves, hoping to delay program cuts and tax hikes for as long as possible.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of recession
Noun
  • Tsai, the Stanford professor, has conducted research on how emotion in American culture puts value on trying to always feel positive and minimizing negativity and sadness.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Survey findings About 28% of Gaston respondents reported moderate or higher levels of negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, anger or boredom, compared with roughly 10% in Union, Venkitasubramanian said.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • In higher-dimensional gravity, certain black-hole-like objects, such as black strings, can become unstable and fragment.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Sabbatini played his final six holes in 6-under par, which included his 25-foot eagle putt from the fringe on the par-5 15th hole.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • On the other hand, eight months of daylight saving time isn’t enough for business owners, who see decreases in foot traffic as evenings get darker.
    — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Officials say during his time in office, the department launched its real-time crime center, created the Neighborhood Resource Unit and Citizens Advisory Committee, and saw crime decrease by double digits annually.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of decrease
Noun
  • Chief Financial Officer Shiv Verma told CNBC event contracts on crypto movements did well in the quarter, offering investors another way to express a view on crypto despite the slump in prices and spot trading.
    — Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
  • There's a kernel of truth to it; Ohtani was clearly limited by several injuries down the stretch, with a lengthy slump accompanying an increase in chase rate and swing and miss.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of slump
Noun
  • The vestiges of his fading memory flash by with a haunting plainness, the melancholy of all this Americana and the sadness of a mind ravaged by time strike the viewer plainly at the end of this maximalist piece of life-writing.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The question for me is whether or not Lloyd will also manage to capture the melancholy of a deceptively serious play, notwithstanding its reputation.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of melancholy
Noun
  • For colder months, a fire pit or propane heater stored and used safely, plus heated blankets, can keep the area in play.
    — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • For year-round use, add shade with sail shades, pergolas or umbrellas, and plan for cold weather with a fire pit or propane heater (stored and used safely) plus heated blankets.
    — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of pit
Noun
  • But this year, OVS slashed its funding, forcing service reductions and uncertainty while barring the program from using grant money to help survivors across county lines.
    — Connie Neal, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Subramaniam said the company is on track to achieve $650 million in operating profit improvement in Europe by the 2029 fiscal year, the majority of which will be cost reduction.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on depression

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about depression

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