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
Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
This is not to say that the Moomin books are depressing.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 22 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
The news is depressing, and now the Tribune is ignoring what is, for those who are not sports fans, their leading form of entertainment.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
This is not to say that the Moomin books are depressing.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 22 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
-
Yes, there are good reasons to question NASA's long-term plans for the Artemis lunar program—the woeful cost of the Space Launch System rocket, the complexity of new commercial landers, and a bleak budget outlook.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
That's rather bleak, while Charlie Sheen's life has just been bonkers.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
12 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
-
There was a blow-up doll that people were throwing around in the audience.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
10 Sep. 2025
-
If Jennings can’t play, Jones will be throwing to a receiver group that caught a grand total of four passes in Week 1, with all of them being Ricky Pearsall’s.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
10 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
-
Of course as their cross-country road trip progresses and Felice racks up first-round-loss after first-round-loss, Gatti’s louche lifestyle is revealed to have a darker, more depressive aspect.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
-
These issues ranged from academic difficulties and disruptive behaviors to depressive moods.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 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 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share