antidepressant

Also anti-de·pressant,

[an-tee-di-pres-uhnt, an-tahy-]

adjective

1. of or relating to a substance that is used in the treatment of mood disorders, as characterized by various manic or depressive affects.

noun

1. Also called energizer, psychic energizer. any such substance, as a tricyclic antidepressant, MAO inhibitor, or lithium.

antidepressant

/ ˌæntɪdɪˈprɛsənt /

noun

1. any of a class of drugs used to alleviate depression

adjective

1. of or relating to this class of drugs

antidepressant

1. A drug used to prevent or treat depression.

Word History and Origins

Origin of antidepressant¹

First recorded in 1960–65; anti- + depressant

Example Sentences

A pathologist found they had died by homicide by unspecified means, including the use of Nortriptyline, an antidepressant, the prosecution said.

From BBC

Kennedy has spoken frequently of his suspicion that prescribed antidepressants trigger violence in their users, most recently after last month’s shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.

From Los Angeles Times

The defence claims Ms Lee gave also took antidepressants when she gave them to her children, but got the dose wrong – and when she woke up, her children were dead.

From BBC

In a prerecorded message played during the special, Huger said she entered a private recovery program to address her “taking antidepressants and drinking.”

From Los Angeles Times

Sammi said she had tried numerous antidepressants over the years, but found her mental health improved the most after using the weight loss drug, which she bought from an online pharmacy.

From BBC