antidepressant
[an-tee-di-pres-uh nt, an-tahy-]Pharmacology
- of or relating to a substance that is used in the treatment of mood disorders, as characterized by various manic or depressive affects.
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- Also called energizer, psychic energizer. any such substance, as a tricyclic antidepressant, MAO inhibitor, or lithium.
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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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for antidepressants
Contemporary Examples
SSRIs are the most widely prescribed class of antidepressants.
In a turn that vindicates Aldous Huxley, one in ten Americans ingests their daily Soma supplement in the form of antidepressants.
Jacintha, 46, spent days in intensive care and was put on a course of antidepressants for nine months.
Many of those who die have alcohol, antidepressants, and/or pain medications in their bloodstreams at death.
Death of Kate Middleton Nurse Shows How Humiliation Can Lead to SuicideKent Sepkowitz
December 10, 2012
The self on antidepressants becomes the only self they know.
Historical Examples
The main advantage of ECT is that it acts much faster than any of the antidepressants.
When You Don't Know Where to TurnSteven J. Bartlett
antidepressant
- any of a class of drugs used to alleviate depression
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- of or relating to this class of drugs
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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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
antidepressant
(ăn′tē-dĭ-prĕs′ənt, ăn′tī-)- A drug used to prevent or treat depression.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
antidepressant
[ăn′tē-dĭ-prĕs′ənt, ăn′tī-]
- A drug used to prevent or treat depression.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
antidepressants
Drugs that prevent or relieve the symptoms of depression. Various psychological disorders are treated with antidepressants.
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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.