antidepressant
Americanadjective
noun
-
antidepressants
plural
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of antidepressant
First recorded in 1960–65; anti- + depressant
Explanation
An antidepressant is a drug used to treat depression. Unfortunately, many antidepressants have unwanted side effects. Depression is a form of extreme sadness, when you're so sad that it impairs your ability to function. Words starting with anti are the opposite or go against other things. Antidepressants, then, are drugs that fight depression. If you’re depressed, a doctor can prescribe an antidepressant such as Prozac or Zoloft. Antidepressants can improve your mood, but they often have side effects such as weight gain or headaches.
Vocabulary lists containing antidepressant
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The paper notes what it describes as a "stark regional divide" in antidepressant use, with the highest number of prescriptions recorded in North Cumbria and South Yorkshire.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
The strongest effect appeared when researchers combined isosteviol, a sweetener used by the food and beverage industry, with the antidepressant duloxetine.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
A new study finds no evidence that antidepressant medications cause autism.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
These responses are necessary to educate the public about why antidepressant use is so common.
From Salon ● May 18, 2026
In the room, Nathan noticed a pamphlet selling antidepressant medication.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
The Daily Mail reports that one in seven people in England were prescribed antidepressants last year, which it says is an increase of more that 15% in five years.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
She is now getting divorced and taking antidepressants.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Any Utah adult can log in to get a refill on cholesterol medications or antidepressants, among other prescriptions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
For comparison, the NNT for SSRIs, the most commonly prescribed antidepressants for moderate-to-severe depression, is around 7.
From Science Daily ● May 28, 2026
On the seventh day, Dr. Janeway released me from Quiet Oaks under strict orders to continue taking my antidepressants.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
