DEPRESS Synonyms: 172 Similar and Opposite Words

depress

verb

di-ˈpres

Definition of depress

as in to oppress

to make sad the thought of once again failing the bar exam depressed me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to throw

to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally construction workers depressed the roadbed in order to make way for an overpass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reduce

to diminish the price or value of the glut of wheat on the market has depressed that commodity for most of the past year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to press

to push steadily against with some force depressed the lever to start the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of depress However, the forecast predicts that AI investment will begin to produce job gains next year and in 2028, even as the cuts have depressed California’s jobs picture. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 The throuple moved into faculty housing, where Lakofski withered, depressed by life in a conventional apartment. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2026 Growth in the world’s second-largest economy softened to its slowest in more than three years in the second quarter, as a multiyear property downturn continued to depress consumer demand and investment in real estate and infrastructure. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026 But recessions had a way of tightening belts and depressing clutch pedals. — Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for depress

Verb

At the sectarian level, Baptists ridiculed Quakers, Presbyterians oppressed Anabaptists.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Look what women can do when they’re not abused, oppressed, and angry about being abused and oppressed!

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of oppress

Verb

Young men from the village threw stones back, Khrzhanovskiy said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
That sudden ascent, for a band spiritually in league with the Velvet Underground and Suicide, led some to wonder what exactly happened behind the social media scenes to get them there (one conspiratorial phrase got thrown around in particular).

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of throw

Verb

Sullivan touted his Bycatch Reduction Act, a bill intended to reduce excess fish caught by large commercial trawlers.

— Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Energy-absorbing seats are designed to manage forces transmitted to occupants during an impact, potentially reducing injury risks.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

Eight years ago, protesters frequently drove coverage in their preferred direction by disrupting candidates (Movimiento Cosecha pushed Biden to endorse a deportation moratorium, for instance) and showing up to press them at Q&As.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
For the 31st time as secretary of state, Marco Rubio has left on a trip abroad, flying to Uzbekistan and later India amid rumblings that America's top diplomat is ignoring pressing matters in favor of politically safer visits and meetings.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of press

Verb

Al Jardine, a fellow Beach Boys co-founder who tours in a separate group and has sharply criticized Love’s behavior in the past, is saddened about how his former friend arrived at this point.

— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Many in the arts community are saddened and concerned about losing Robert Rauschenberg’s former New York home and studio, which has served as an exhibition and research site.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of sadden

Verb

Fallon followed up by asking if McRae had dropped easter eggs hinting at the song’s release.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
The remains of a man who was shot in the head and stuffed into a rusted barrel found on the shore of Lake Mead after the water level dropped were identified Thursday as an Arkansas man whose decades-old killing remains unsolved.

— CBS News, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of drop

Browse Nearby Words

depredators

depress

depressant

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Style

“Depress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depress. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of depress

verb

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