major depressive disorder

noun

: a serious mood disorder involving one or more episodes of intense psychological depression or loss of interest or pleasure that lasts two or more weeks and is accompanied by irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and sometimes suicidal tendencies : clinical depression, major depression
About 18 million Americans are diagnosed with a major depressive disorder each year.David Schwab
The most serious form of depression is major depressive disorder, characterized by depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, changes in appetite, increased or decreased sleep, increased or decreased motor activity, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty concentrating and, for some people, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.Sandi Lloyd
abbreviation MDD

Examples of major depressive disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The study also concluded that men were at greater risk of developing major depressive disorder for the first time after divorce. Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024 Allen has a history with major depressive disorder and anxiety and showed signs of dependent personality syndrome, a mental health condition that involves an excessive need to be taken care of by others. Ron Wilkins, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2023 He was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, anxiety and experienced terrible panic episodes. Tony Peters, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024 As a boy, Larry was diagnosed with autism, and later in life, with major depressive disorder. John Johnston, The Enquirer, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for major depressive disorder 

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of major depressive disorder was in 1977

Dictionary Entries Near major depressive disorder

Cite this Entry

“Major depressive disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/major%20depressive%20disorder. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

major depressive disorder

noun
: a serious mood disorder involving one or more episodes of intense psychological depression or loss of interest or pleasure that lasts two or more weeks and is accompanied by irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and sometimes suicidal tendencies : clinical depression, major depression
The diagnosis of both major depressive disorder and subsyndromal symptoms is complicated by difficulties that elderly patients may have in recognizing or describing depressive symptoms.Lawrence M. Martin et al., The John Hopkins White Papers
abbreviation MDD
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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