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

As Christina, the youngest of a trio of sisters, Olsen spends the film playing mediator between Natasha Lyonne’s depressed stoner, Rachel, and Carrie Coon’s domineering control freak, Katie. —Rachel Handler, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024

Some staffers pretended to call on behalf of a depressed relative. —Max Blau, ProPublica, 14 Nov. 2024

Although the concept of buy now and pay later (BNPL) is nothing new—home shopping catalogs were very much a feature of the depressed 1970s economy—the rise of e-commerce has allowed it to be reinvented for the digital age. —Paul Marcantonio, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Six months after joining MGM, Bauer discussed the state of what was then the COVID depressed co-production marketplace in a virtual conversation conducted by Variety for the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024

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