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
The impact craters are the depressions or markings left behind after something like an asteroid or comet crashes into the moon's surface, according to NASA.
—
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
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
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
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
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
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
-
Previous recessions including the 2008 Great Recession were triggered by similar risky lending practices.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
That’s worse than during the past three recessions – during the Covid pandemic, the Great Recession or the dot-com bust.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Once written, the script’s fantastic promise distracted its readers from the fatal holes in its plot.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Plus, the storage area has ventilation holes to keep items from becoming musty.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
28 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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Research has also found that high-protein breakfasts help to stabilize blood sugar, reduce mid-morning energy slumps, support metabolism and maintain muscle mass, especially in older adults.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
19 Oct. 2025
-
There are slumps, patches of mediocre play, doldrums of various kinds.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The courtyard is outfitted with several fire pits and is a nice place to hang out, and the property regularly hosts outdoor yoga classes as well.—
Mae Hamilton,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
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In warm weather, rent a paddleboard from the hotel and glide across Lake Estes, or warm up around the fire pits or in the dry sauna.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As estrogen decreases during menopause, nerves in the hypothalamus — an almond-size region deep inside the brain whose functions include helping regulate the body’s thermostat — become hyperactive and produce an overabundance of chemical signals called neurokinins.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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Prices across Louisville have generally followed the national trend, showing significant decreases from their peak in the first quarter of 2025.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Thus far, 10 have been inspected from a site at the north end of SONGS that holds the canisters in vertical cavities.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Oct. 2025
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Even with the rise of fluoride in toothpaste and other products, it’s credited with a 25% decrease in cavities.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Federal employees are entitled to back pay under a 2019 law, but agencies have been instructed to consider workforce reductions for unfunded programs that fall outside presidential priorities.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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Just under a third expect headcount reductions, and 30% predict an increase of headcount within the next three years.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Depressions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depressions. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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