depressions

noun

plural of depression
1
as in recessions
a period of decreased economic activity during the 1930s the U.S. suffered a great depression

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2
as in holes
a sunken area forming a separate space the water generally collects in the patchwork of depressions in the city plaza

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dents
the amount by which something is lessened a depression in the number of new homes being built

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 depressions Hollows haven’t been found elsewhere on planets in our solar system, and with no wind or water to form the thousands of puzzling depressions, scientists want to know what forces sculpted them. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 When ice-rich permafrost thaws, the ground surface subsides, creating what are known as thermokarst ponds – depressions that fill with water. — Anna Liljedahl, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026 Watching 2 areas that could become tropical depressions (TDs) this week. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026 That proximity should allow Chang’e 7 to prospect for water ice trapped in smaller depressions near Shackleton that, because of the moon’s tilt, never see sunlight and have temperatures just a few dozen degrees above absolute zero. — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026 Look for oval depressions in sunny patches of sand where grouse took dust baths. — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 When possible, make turns on hard surfaces such as driveway, patios, and sidewalks to avoid tearing the grass and creating depressions. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 June 2026 According to the heteronormative version of bluegill courtship, mating season begins when males start building nests—basically, bowl-like depressions in the lake bed. — Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 The presence of depressions and basins across the present-day landscape are strong indicators of lakes that later dried up. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depressions
  1. recessions
  2. holes
  3. dents
  4. slumps
  5. pits
  6. decreases
  7. cavities
  8. reductions
Noun
  • Currency collapses, banking crises, and deep recessions struck the East Asian deficit countries, while the surplus countries bore few costs.
    — MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Washington no longer borrows only during wars, recessions or national emergencies.
    — Carolyn Bourdeaux, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of recessions
Noun
  • At the resort, there’s a host of activities and amenities, including four golf courses with 10-18 holes each, bass fishing, axe throwing, pickleball, and more.
    — Megan duBois, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of etching holes directly into the semiconductor, researchers patterned a silicon dioxide layer and then covered it with epitaxial semiconductor.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of holes
Noun
  • Tracks Check that the tracks on both sides of the door are properly aligned and free of dents or debris.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Regularly inspect your spatulas for any sign of wear, including loose components, cracks, scratches or dents.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of dents
Noun
  • Bitcoin and gold snapped back from steep midyear slumps, with bitcoin vaulting above $77,000 and gold nearing $4,700 as investors rushed into alternative assets this week.
    — Michelle Chapman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Bumble and competitor Tinder, owned by Match Group, have reported consecutive declining rates of paying users, revenue and stock slumps in recent years.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of slumps
Noun
  • Outside, intimate outdoor areas separated by partial wooden fences are covered with artificial grass and serve as private patios with furniture and fire pits.
    — Brian Cicioni, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of pits
Noun
  • Some early studies are showing that people using AI chatbots designed with cognitive behavior therapy principles experienced decreases in symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to psychologists.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But the summer months have also thrown into sharp relief the unequal way in which those decreases in violence have shown up across the city.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of decreases
Noun
  • Sound waves excite the air in the cavities, forcing out the oscillating air to generate thrust.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
  • To test this approach, the team first built miniature boats, each equipped with three cavities tuned to different frequencies.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of cavities
Noun
  • Investigators reported a dose-dependent drop in biomarker levels on certain measures, meaning higher doses led to greater reductions, a sign the drug is having an effect.
    — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Dignity Health did not directly address questions about staffing reductions Friday.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of reductions

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depression
depressions
depressive
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Cite this Entry

“Depressions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depressions. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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