depressant

American  

[dih-pres-uhnt] / dɪˈprɛs ənt /

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.

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noun

1. Medicine/Medical. a sedative.

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

depressant British  

/ dɪˈprɛsənt /

adjective

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

2. causing gloom or dejection; depressing

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noun

1. a depressant drug

Etymology

Origin of depressant

First recorded in 1875–80; depress + -ant

Example Sentences

Economists have long pointed to the country’s years-long property slump as a major depressant of consumer sentiment, as real-estate makes up a significant portion of household balance sheets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Bonjean also challenged Shapiro over her testimony that she knew the pill Cosby gave her was not a Quaalude, a depressant popular in the 1970s, because of the coding etched on it.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2022

He said he had been given a diagnosis as “manic depressant and bipolar,” which caused him to lie about the brain cancer.

From New York Times • Aug. 1, 2019

Dramatic reconstruction – also used in Antonia Bird's Hamburg Cell, a film about the hijackers themselves – served a purpose, but it could also be a gruelling depressant.

From The Guardian • Mar. 30, 2010

It acts quickly, is less depressant and is a safer salt than most of the other newer hypnotics.

From Disturbances of the Heart by Osborne, Oliver T. (Oliver Thomas)