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Synonyms

depressing

American  
[dih-pres-ing] / dɪˈprɛs ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. serving to depress; inducing a state of depression.

    depressing news.
depressing British  
/ dɪˈprɛsɪŋ /

adjective

  1. causing a feeling of dejection or low spirits

"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

Other Word Forms

  • depressingly adverb
  • nondepressing adjective
  • nondepressingly adverb
  • undepressing adjective

Etymology

Origin of depressing

First recorded in 1780–90; depress + -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It wants to be wicked and outrageous but it’s really just dismal and depressing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

True, but the glumness of said world is central to Hoover’s zeitgeisty appeal — a point she underlines a few beats later, Kenna insisting that the radio only ever plays depressing songs.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

"This study is probably the most depressing project I've been involved with in my entire life," Amaral said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

Markets tumbled last week after a viral blog post described a gloomy scenario in which AI led to mass layoffs, depressing economic growth.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

A team of medical orderlies installed tan shades on each of the two windows and lowered them to douse the room in depressing shadows.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.