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

Caffeine is a stimulant, and alcohol is a depressant that can take the edge off too many espresso shots.

From Washington Post

I have some doubts about that being the primary depressant, considering that the second, third and fourth most morose metros on the list are all in the Sun Belt: Riverside-San Bernardino, Phoenix and Miami.

From Seattle Times

Did you find the pandemic to be a creative stimulant or depressant?

From Seattle Times

“You have a lot more energy because alcohol is a depressant,” said Ruby Mehta, a licensed clinical social worker and the director of clinical operations at Tempest, a digital recovery program in Manhattan.

From New York Times

The court was told she was a vulnerable child who took anti depressants, occasionally self harmed and had been allocated a social worker.

From BBC