depressant

[dih-pres-uhnt]

adjective

1. Medicine/Medical.,  having the quality of depressing depressing or lowering the vital activities; sedative.

2. causing a lowering in spirits; dejecting.

3. causing a drop in value; economically depressing. depressing.

noun

1. Medicine/Medical.,  a sedative.

2. Chemistry.,  any agent capable of diminishing a specific property of a substance.

depressant

/ dɪˈprɛsənt /

adjective

1. med able to diminish or reduce nervous or functional activity

2. causing gloom or dejection; depressing

noun

1. a depressant drug

Word History and Origins

Origin of depressant¹

First recorded in 1875–80; depress + -ant

Example Sentences

He said because both benzodiazepines and nitazenes were depressants, “their combined effect increases the risk of overdose significantly”.

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They detailed that they found packs of clonazepam, a central nervous system depressant, energy supplements and other over-the-counter drugs.

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That’s when I realized how much alcohol — a depressant — had been affecting my mood.

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Under the new law, mifepristone and misoprostol will be added to a list comprised of opioids, depressants, and stimulants.

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Other Schedule IV drugs include the opioid tramadol and a group of depressants known as benzodiazepines.

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