depression

noun

di-ˈpre-shən How to pronounce depression (audio)
Definition of depressionnext
1
as in recession
a period of decreased economic activity during the 1930s the U.S. suffered a great depression

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2
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits she called her friend to see if a sympathetic ear would relieve his depression

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3
as in hole
a sunken area forming a separate space the water generally collects in the patchwork of depressions in the city plaza

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4
as in decrease
the amount by which something is lessened a depression in the number of new homes being built

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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 depression Within a year of its onset, the economic depression practically eradicated the need to mint any new coinage for months. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026 According to the Sepsis Alliance, depression is among the symptoms of post-sepsis syndrome. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 Parents, politicians and child advocacy groups are worried that social media is contributing to depression, anxiety, eating disorders and other issues. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 In middle school, the anger morphed into sadness, and by high school the sadness became depression. — Keri Janton, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depression
  1. recession
  2. sadness
  3. hole
  4. decrease
  5. slump
  6. melancholy
  7. pit
  8. reduction
Noun
  • In the 9/11 crisis and the recession, that’s when forward guidance began, and then it was institutionalized in the great financial crisis.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The lipstick index is an economic theory holding that sales of affordable discretionary spending or luxuries skyrocket when consumers believe an economic recession is impending.
    — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of recession
Noun
  • For example, expressing appreciation for past help or thanking the doctor for their time was more helpful than emphasizing sadness or frustration.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But our frustrations and inconvenience pale in comparison to the sadness of those who knew the deceased or to the trauma the drivers involved experienced.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • McIlroy surged into the top-10 on Saturday with a 7-under 63, powered by nine birdies, including three in his final four holes.
    — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers engineered an additional GaN layer that naturally creates a second sheet containing mobile holes, called a two-dimensional hole gas, or 2DHG.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • Newlight also reported a 28 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions and a 22 percent decrease in carbon monoxide emissions during the voyage.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • That is a drastic decrease in public support for right-leaning competitors since 2022, when nearly three times as many candidates won their seats and the group spent thousands on over 50 Florida school board campaigns.
    — Trinity Webster-Bass, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of decrease
Noun
  • Growth in the world's second-largest economy slowed to multi-year lows in the second quarter, weighed down by tepid domestic demand and a prolonged real estate slump.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The country is more vulnerable to an oil slump than many other producers, making its defense of prices and preservation of OPEC’s relevance a priority.
    — Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of slump
Noun
  • Beneath all the sensuality and beauty, there’s also a lingering melancholy that feels very familiar to me.
    — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 16 June 2026
  • Don Hertzfeldt occasionally comes to mind for a similarly pervasive mood of questioning, philosophical melancholy.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 12 June 2026
Definition of melancholy
Noun
  • Atomic force microscopy of the impact zones found pits several nanometers deep in places deeper than the entire thickness of the Teflon film, meaning the damage ran clean through the coating and into the metal.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Perhaps Huck, who did not respond to a request for comment, came to this realization a little late and is looking to avoid getting stuck in a money-pit situation.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of pit
Noun
  • Top establishments like London's Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, a three-star restaurant, offer flexible à la carte lunch options for under £100, a significant reduction from their standard tasting menus.
    — Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Recent school closures have helped the district to be able to make that reduction.
    — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduction

Browse Nearby Words

depressing
depression
depressions
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Cite this Entry

“Depression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depression. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on depression

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about depression

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