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
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Recent Examples of depressing
Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
Because what could be more depressing than just passively watching the world burn and melt and crumble?
—Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
Lionel Laurent, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026
So why isn’t any of this depressing him?
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for depressing
Adjective
Such widespread outsourcing of thought and memory is deeply depressing to many educators.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
Because what could be more depressing than just passively watching the world burn and melt and crumble?
—Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
Verb
The perky response of Hungary’s currency and equity markets, at a time when war in the Gulf is depressing asset prices everywhere, shows Orbanism clearly wasn’t working for business.
—Lionel Laurent, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026
So why isn’t any of this depressing him?
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for depressing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depressing
Adjective
-
This year, though, is things are looking bleak.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
Charli and preeminent pop divas Olivia Rodrigo and Ariana Grande are releasing some of the bleakest music of their careers just in time for summer, the traditional season for party anthems and celebratory bangers.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
The other six ascended to the highest office in the land as a result of the dysfunction that has made Peru a punch line in political-science circles, a sad story of ungovernability played on a loop.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
-
There’s a one-note quality to the film’s comedy that grows steadily, even deliberately, more abrasive over two hours, but the sad, brash, gradually shrinking bigness of the personalities at its center holds your attention.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The news was saddening for Jewell — but also alarming for the defense.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Two nights after throwing 21 pitches over 1⅔ innings, Johnson threw 124 pitches over 7⅓ strong innings to beat the host Aggies (41-14) before a crowd of 6,934.—
Jose de Jesus Ortiz,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
Houser grinded through a pair of long innings that ate into his pitch count, throwing 37 pitches in the first inning and 27 more pitches in the third inning.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The price tag comes from the California State Auditor’s report that was issued last fall, which found that maintaining similar telework policies could potentially save $225 million annually by reducing the government’s office space footprint.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
6 June 2026
-
An April 2026 analysis identified 446 hospitals across 44 states at high risk of closing or reducing services because of Medicaid funding cuts.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Araghchi said Iran sent messages to the Americans this week pressing the need to prevent an Israeli attack on Beirut.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
Rams architects Les Snead and Sean McVay can still adroitly motivate a player without pressing too hard.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
The den resembles the room of someone who is stuck in a depressive rut, like Clark.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Most deaths are caused by substance use disorders and depressive disorders.—
Yenupini Joyce Adams,
The Conversation,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
By then, Thomsen says, the public perception had shifted from regarding it as tough and controversial to seeing it as desperate and pathetic.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
-
The plan involved discovering a long lost princess, hopping on a plane to London, breaking into a museum store room, and enlisting the help of a very pathetic historian.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Depressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depressing. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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