depressed

adjective

de·​pressed di-ˈprest 

dē-

1

: low in spirits : sad

especially : affected by psychological depression

2

a

: vertically flattened

a depressed cactus

b

: having the central part lower than the margin

c

: lying flat or prostrate

d

: dorsoventrally flattened

3

: suffering from economic depression

especially : underprivileged

4

: being below the standard

Synonyms

• concave
• dented
• dished
• hollow
• indented
• recessed
• sunken

Examples of depressed in a Sentence

The rainy weather had her feeling lonely and depressed.

He was depressed about having to return to school.

The new drug is being tested on a group of severely depressed patients.

living in a depressed area

The patient has a somewhat depressed appetite.

Prices have remained at a depressed level.

Recent Examples on the Web

Today’s youth can feel depressed by the state of society while remaining incredibly sensitive, inventive, and caring. —Ben Croll, Variety, 15 Feb. 2025

Man Shares Theory About Why Gen Z Are Depressed By Alice Gibbs Senior Life and Trends Reporter Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 20 A 24-year-old marketing agency owner who lives in Tampa, Florida, has sparked discussion after sharing this theory about why Gen Z is depressed. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025

Adapted from the 2016 novel by Deborah Levy, set in the coastal city of Almería in southeast Spain, the movie abandons the book’s context of financially depressed Europe after the 2008 crash and struggles to muster either menace or beauty in its principal location. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025

The fact that this depressed gent is portrayed by Rankin himself speaks volumes. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing depressed

• clinically depressed

Kids Definition

depressed

adjective

de·​pressed

1

a

: low in spirits : sad

b

: suffering from mental depression

2

: suffering from economic depression

Medical Definition

depressed

adjective

de·​pressed di-ˈprest 

1

: low in spirits

specifically : affected by psychological depression

a severely depressed patient

2

a

: having the central part lower than the margin

a depressed pustule

b

: dorsoventrally flattened

the tapeworm is a depressed animal

—R. A. Wardle & J. A. McLeod