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 Lamberth, who was nominated to the bench by President Ronald Reagan, pointed out that untreated gender dysphoria can cause severe side effects like depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026 Sleeping too much or not enough and feeling very tired are common symptoms of depression. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Saunders was there for one season, succeeding Mike Hancock, who resigned while citing anxiety, grief and depression in the wake of a 2024 school shooting that left two students and two educators dead. — Caitlyn Stroh-Page, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Alternatively, depression may involve placing too much confidence in outdated forecasts. — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 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
  • Goldman Sachs thinks the layoffs are waiting for a recession.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • These governments implemented large welfare programs that brought about severe fiscal deficits and deep economic recession.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 21 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
  • His unit had shown holes in the secondary, ranking 131st in the country in pass defense.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Joe Jackson ran for 159 yards and a touchdown, Avery Johnson threw for 203 yards and another score, and the Wildcats overcame a multitude of mistakes while rallying from an early 10-point hole to keep nearly two decades of dominance going.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • Although the decrease in shot volume wasn’t quite as dramatic, Giddey went 1-for-10 from the field and scored only two points in Wednesday’s brutal beatdown by the Raptors.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The Clippers have the largest decrease in the NBA in average age between their current roster and the group that was active for last year's season opener, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of decrease
Noun
  • In an email, general manager and head brewer David Bulcock told The Star that their original location, which opened in 2019, saw a slump in foot traffic and bookings for their event space located in the back of the brewery and roastery.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, other pockets of the economy remain weak, weighed down by feeble consumption and a multiyear property slump.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 19 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
  • The district plans to make about $1 million in reductions during the 2027-28 academic year regardless of the referendum, according an infographic from the district.
    — Elena Tittel, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Schmidt expects that kind of workforce reduction to become more common as AI makes businesses more efficient.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduction

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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 25 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about depression

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