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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.

"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

It has been a depressing crash course on the sea change in Silicon Valley.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

"Then they decided to move us to another space off the same hallway, which was a little bigger, but just as disgusting - just as depressing."

From BBC • Mar. 4, 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

I can’t think of anything more depressing than to be an Egyptian high priest on display next to a set of vintage wagon wheels and a two-headed chicken.

From "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven

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.