depressive

[ dih-pres-iv ]

/ dɪˈprɛs ɪv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR depressive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

tending to depress.

characterized by depression, especially mental depression.

noun

a person suffering from a depressive illness.

Nearby words

depressed skull fracture, depressing, depression, depression glass, depression, great, depressive, depressively, depressomotor, depressor, depressor fiber, depressor muscle of angle of mouth

Origin of depressive

First recorded in 1610–20; depress + -ive

Related forms

de·pres·sive·ly, adverbde·pres·sive·ness, nounnon·de·pres·sive, adjectivenon·de·pres·sive·ly, adverb

o·ver·de·pres·sive, adjectiveo·ver·de·pres·sive·ly, adverbo·ver·de·pres·sive·ness, nounpost·de·pres·sive, adjectiveun·de·pres·sive, adjectiveun·de·pres·sive·ly, adverbun·de·pres·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for depressive

She says one of her depressive swings left her suicidal during her freshman year.
Mental-Health Breakdown: When Harvard Fails Its Students|Eliza Shapiro|March 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Every two weeks he would visit patients suffering the gamut of depressive disorders.
RIP Cobber|David Frum|October 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
"The president is going through a depressive phase due to his tireless work for the nation," she told them.
Laila Trabelsi: Wife of Tunisia's Deposed Dictator|Issandr El Amrani|January 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He doesn't charm anyone, is prone to indecision about his personal life, and has depressive tendencies.
The Original Stieg Larsson|Sarah Weinman|July 27, 2010|DAILY BEAST

Now pain, which is depressive, leaves deeper traces in life than joy.
Philosophic Nights In Paris|Remy De Gourmont
In no case is the action of a stimulant followed by a depressive reaction.
Tobacco and Alcohol|John Fiske
Kraepelin treats stupors occurring in manic-depressive insanity as falling into two groups, the depressive and manic.
Benign Stupors|August Hoch
This was the first triumphant conclusion, but afterward came reaction and a depressive doubt.
Empire Builders|Francis Lynde
Depressive memories or ideas have associated with them a depressing and disintegrating emotional quality.
Applied Psychology: Driving Power of Thought|Warren Hilton

British Dictionary definitions for depressive

depressive

/ (dɪˈprɛsɪv) /

adjective

tending to depress; causing depression

psychol tending to be subject to periods of depressionSee also manic-depressive

Derived Forms

depressively, adverbdepressiveness, noun

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

Medicine definitions for depressive

depressive

[ dĭ-prĕs′ĭv ]

adj.

Tending to depress or lower.

Depressing; gloomy.

Of or relating to psychological depression.

n.

A person suffering from psychological depression.