depressive

[dih-pres-iv]

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.

Origin of depressive

First recorded in 1610–20; depress + -ive

Related formsde·pres·sive·ly, adverbde·pres·sive·ness, nounnon·de·pres·sive, adjectivenon·de·pres·sive·ly, adverbo·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. 2018

Examples from the Web for depressive

Contemporary Examples

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
Every two weeks he would visit patients suffering the gamut of depressive disorders.
RIP Cobber
David Frum
October 1, 2012
"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
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

Historical Examples

In no case is the action of a stimulant followed by a depressive reaction.
Tobacco and Alcohol
John Fiske
Surely Callista Blake was not what his brother Jack would call a depressive type, if that word was still favored in the jargon.
The Trial of Callista Blake
Edgar Pangborn
Depressive memories or ideas have associated with them a depressing and disintegrating emotional quality.
Applied Psychology: Driving Power of Thought
Warren Hilton
The last case is interesting in that a depressive onset to a deep stupor was observed in the Institute.
Benign Stupors
August Hoch
When she was talked to, she was apt to indulge in depressive statements and show considerable distress.
Benign Stupors
August Hoch

British Dictionary definitions for depressive

depressive

adjective

tending to depress; causing depression
psychol tending to be subject to periods of depressionSee also manic-depressive

Derived Formsdepressively, 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

Word Origin and History for depressive

adj.

1610s, from Latin depress-, past participle stem of deprimere (see depress) + -ive. In psychology, from 1905.

depressive in Medicine

depressive

(dĭ-prĕs′ĭv)

adj.

Tending to depress or lower.
Depressing; gloomy.
Of or relating to psychological depression.

A person suffering from psychological depression.

depressive

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}depressive

Examples from the Web for depressive

Contemporary Examples

She says one of her depressive swings left her suicidal during her freshman year.

Every two weeks he would visit patients suffering the gamut of depressive disorders.

"The president is going through a depressive phase due to his tireless work for the nation," she told them.

He doesn't charm anyone, is prone to indecision about his personal life, and has depressive tendencies.

Historical Examples

In no case is the action of a stimulant followed by a depressive reaction.

Surely Callista Blake was not what his brother Jack would call a depressive type, if that word was still favored in the jargon.

Depressive memories or ideas have associated with them a depressing and disintegrating emotional quality.

The last case is interesting in that a depressive onset to a deep stupor was observed in the Institute.

When she was talked to, she was apt to indulge in depressive statements and show considerable distress.

depressive

Word Origin and History for depressive

adj.

depressive

Origin of depressive