1
as in recessions
a period of decreased economic activity
during the 1930s the U.S. suffered a great depression
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in holes
a sunken area forming a separate space
the water generally collects in the patchwork of depressions in the city plaza
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dents
the amount by which something is lessened
a depression in the number of new homes being built
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of depressions
Sinkholes, depressions in the ground caused by the sudden collapse of the surface layer, can form for various reasons, including natural causes like intense rainfall, flooding or drought, as well as human activities such as construction and aging infrastructure.
—
Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
The hurricane center is also monitoring two systems in the Eastern Pacific with disparate chances of developing into tropical depressions over the next few days.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Most tropical activity in the Atlantic – depressions, storms and hurricanes – occurs from mid-August to mid-October.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
The bumps and depressions were less than a tenth the size of the groove itself; even the most advanced microscopes of the day couldn’t detect features that small.
—Allison Marsh, IEEE Spectrum, 17 Sep. 2025
From this research, Motiva created its unique surface, which features depressions (approximately 16,000 nanometers in depth) that are the smallest available, according to a study published in the journal Case Reports in Plastic Surgery & Hand Surgery.
—Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Parcels on the block had been subdivided, depressions in the curb laid for future driveways.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
The Saffir‒Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS) classifies hurricanes—western hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms—into five categories, distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds.
—Miriam Toews
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Water from the melting ice often drains into depressions once occupied by the glacier, creating large lakes.
—Suzanne Oconnell, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2025
Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
The hurricane center is also monitoring two systems in the Eastern Pacific with disparate chances of developing into tropical depressions over the next few days.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Most tropical activity in the Atlantic – depressions, storms and hurricanes – occurs from mid-August to mid-October.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
The bumps and depressions were less than a tenth the size of the groove itself; even the most advanced microscopes of the day couldn’t detect features that small.
—Allison Marsh, IEEE Spectrum, 17 Sep. 2025
From this research, Motiva created its unique surface, which features depressions (approximately 16,000 nanometers in depth) that are the smallest available, according to a study published in the journal Case Reports in Plastic Surgery & Hand Surgery.
—Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Parcels on the block had been subdivided, depressions in the curb laid for future driveways.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
The Saffir‒Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS) classifies hurricanes—western hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms—into five categories, distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds.
—Miriam Toews
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Water from the melting ice often drains into depressions once occupied by the glacier, creating large lakes.
—Suzanne Oconnell, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depressions
Noun
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In addition, Windisch says the tolls of navigating two recessions means Gen X women are less equipped to save for retirement; a recent survey from Northwestern Mutual finds that Gen X women have the largest gap in retirement savings of any generation of women.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
8 Oct. 2025
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Goldman, whose family started Phantom Halloween in the 1980s, has seen all kinds of outside forces hit the business over the decades, from recessions to natural disasters to Covid-19.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The fit also seemed perfect for both sides, as the Eagles were seeking to fill any holes on the defensive lines.—
Cameron Belcher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
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Inside the old asylum, plaster peeled from mottled walls and holes gaped in the ceiling.—
Jen Rose Smith,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Softened is different from melted, because softened butter still holds its shape but dents when pressed.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Oct. 2025
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The beige paint on this one was faded and the surface had some dents and rough spots.—
Laura Lane,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There are slumps, patches of mediocre play, doldrums of various kinds.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
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Second-half slumps and injuries have undoubtedly taken a toll, but most of the talent is ready to roll in October.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Topgolf Woodbury will have a full-service bar and restaurant, more than 140 HDTVs, fire pits and music, according to the company.—
Talia McWright,
Twin Cities,
16 Oct. 2025
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Three additional bedrooms filtered throughout the house each have their own bath and outdoor space, while the lushly landscaped grounds span over a third of an acre and host a heated saltwater pool and a spillover spa surrounded by a wraparound sundeck, along with a pair of fire pits.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Plus, future Fed rate decreases are already priced into the Treasury curve.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
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Accompanying decreases in oxygen consumption are estimated at 20% and 39%, respectively.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Advertisement In experiments that began in the 1980s and developed over the ensuing 15 years, the scientists developed frameworks using metals and organic molecules that contained cavities large enough for gases and other materials to flow through.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
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Sucking water out of desert air Being able to pack a vast number of cavities in such a small space allowed Yaghi’s research group to suck water from the desert air of Arizona.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Administration has also issued reductions in force at agencies such as the Treasury Department and Health and Human Services, firing more than four thousand workers—an unprecedented action during a shutdown.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
15 Oct. 2025
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The job reductions are scattered throughout NBC News.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Depressions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depressions. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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