depressed

12 synonyms and 5 antonyms for depressed, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Feeling persistently sad, hopeless, or without energy; also used for the clinical mental health condition.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

low down blue

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

melancholy gloomy grim

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

dejected downcast despondent sluggish downhearted dispirited

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Feeling persistently sad, hopeless, or without energy; also used for the clinical mental health condition.

“He felt depressed for weeks and found it hard to get out of bed.”

dejected downcast despondent melancholy gloomy sluggish low grim down downhearted blue dispirited

Opposites

glad cheerful bright happy

2. adj

Suffering from reduced economic activity.

“Many factories closed in the depressed region, leaving people struggling to find work.”

Opposites

buoyant

How to use depressed

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

clinically depressed feel depressed depressed economy

When describing a diagnosed condition, use it carefully and respectfully rather than casually for everyday low moods.

Etymology

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Full origin of depressed →

Frequently asked questions

What does “depressed” mean?

The word “depressed” means feeling persistently sad, hopeless, or without energy; also used for the clinical mental health condition. In plain terms, feeling very low emotionally, or (of an economy/area) struggling and in decline.

How do you pronounce “depressed”?

“Depressed” is pronounced dih-PREHST (/dɪˈpɹɛst/ in IPA).

How do you use “depressed” in a sentence?

Here is “depressed” used in a sentence: “She's been feeling depressed since losing her job.”

What part of speech is “depressed”?

“Depressed” is an adjective.

Is “depressed” a common word?

“Depressed” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “depressed” have?

“Depressed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling persistently sad, hopeless, or without energy; also used for the clinical mental health condition.

What is the difference between depressed and sad?

Sadness is usually a temporary feeling in response to an event, while "depressed" describes a persistent state of sadness, hopelessness, or low energy. "Depressed" is also used for the clinical mental health condition, which is more serious and longer-lasting than ordinary sadness.

What is the difference between depressed and depressing?

"Depressed" describes how a person feels, meaning persistently sad or without energy. "Depressing" describes something that causes those feelings, such as a depressing film or a depressing situation.

Can an economy be described as depressed?

Yes. In this sense, "depressed" means suffering from reduced economic activity, as in a depressed housing market or a depressed region. It describes weak business conditions rather than a person's mood.

What is the difference between depressed and unhappy?

"Unhappy" is a general word for not being content, often about a specific situation. "Depressed" suggests a deeper, more lasting sadness and loss of energy, and it can also refer to the clinical mental health condition.

People also searched

down low happy blue glad bright grim cheerful gloomy melancholy sluggish downcast

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of depressed