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antidepressant

[an-tee-di-pres-uh nt, an-tahy-]Pharmacology
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adjective

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

noun

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

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Nearby words

  1. anticyclogenesis,
  2. anticyclolysis,
  3. anticyclone,
  4. antidazzle mirror,
  5. antidemocratic,
  6. antidepressants,
  7. antiderivative,
  8. antidesiccant,
  9. antideuteron,
  10. antidiarrheal
Also an·ti-de·pres·sant, an·ti·de·pres·sive [an-tee-di-pres-iv, an-tahy-] /ˌæn ti dɪˈprɛs ɪv, ˌæn taɪ-/.

Origin of antidepressant

First recorded in 1960–65; anti- + depressant
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for antidepressants

British Dictionary definitions for antidepressants

antidepressant

noun

any of a class of drugs used to alleviate depression

adjective

of or relating to this class of drugs
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for antidepressants

antidepressant

n.

1876, from anti- + depressant.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for antidepressants

antidepressant

[ăn′tē-dĭ-prĕs′ənt, ăn′tī-]

n.

A drug used to prevent or treat depression.
Related formsan′ti•de•pres′sant null adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for antidepressants

antidepressant

[ăn′tē-dĭ-prĕs′ənt, ăn′tī-]

A drug used to prevent or treat depression.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Culture definitions for antidepressants

antidepressants

Drugs that prevent or relieve the symptoms of depression. Various psychological disorders are treated with antidepressants.

Note

Although there are many antidepressant drugs now in use, the best known is Prozac®.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.