DEPRESSIONS Synonyms: 133 Similar and Opposite Words

depressions

noun

plural of depression

as in recessions

a period of decreased economic activity during the 1930s the U.S. suffered a great depression

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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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as in dents

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

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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 Old channels linger as soft depressions across the floodplain, now filled with bog vegetation in muted shades of yellow, green, and brown—living traces of flowing water long since gone. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 In the Atlantic, the weakest of these systems are called tropical depressions. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 Lawns with depressions, bumps, or low spots where water pools will benefit from topdressing. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026 Fill ruts, depressions, and holes with topsoil and either turf or plants. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026 But depressions and debris littering Mercury's landscape from new impact craters have covered up such wrinkles, thus obscuring just how much the planet has shrunk, the researchers said in a press release announcing their findings. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026 This sport is rooted in traditions that span generations and have endured through two world wars, economic booms, depressions and social strife. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for depressions

Noun

Keynesianism gets a brain freeze John Maynard Keynes is basically the father of macroeconomics, the study of how the entire economy works, including what the government can do to fight recessions, boost employment, and control inflation.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026
Historically, such rate hikes have often slowed growth and have even led to recessions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of recessions

Noun

Chacarra was 4 under for his round after 11 holes, having started out in the halfway lead after completing a second-round 67 early Saturday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Using wooden planks and sandbags, Long Beach City work crews earlier this month had patched up holes in the boardwalk’s wall created by the hurricanes, but the reinforcements did not hold.

— Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of holes

Noun

Front and rear bumpers can be easily detached from bodywork to allow cheap replacement after low-speed dents.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026
Companies like Flock allow users to conduct searches based on characteristics like vehicle make, model and color, as well as other distinctive vehicle features like dents and stickers.

— Abigail Hall, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of dents

Noun

In last year’s World Series, Ohtani had endured hitting slumps, too, but his teammates compensated with timely contributions to earn a second consecutive title.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
When healthy, Ohtani has the ability to break out of even the most dire of slumps with an otherworldly performance, like that three-homer (as a hitter), 10-strikeout (as a pitcher) all-timer.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of slumps

Noun

Crowley, once a logging camp, can’t be reached by road, but train passengers can wander among picnic tables, fire pits, cornhole games and a massive, gnarled old redwood known as the Wolf Tree.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
The Senate race pits incumbent Roger Marshall against Democrat Adam Hamilton.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of pits

Noun

Even with efforts to provide additional access to harm-reduction protections, escalating criminal penalties have not produced the treatment gains or decreases in overdose deaths in Colorado that proponents promised.

— Joshua Barocas, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
When evidence is incomplete or when confidence decreases and risk increases, autonomy should be reduced and the human boundary tightened.

— Asaf Wiener, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of decreases

Noun

Some social media users claim that their boyfriend’s bad habits resulted in everything from cavities to recurring bacterial vaginosis.

— Georgia Casey, Allure, 9 Oct. 2026
Why your mouth matters beyond your teeth An imbalanced oral microbiome has been linked to much more than cavities and bad breath.

— Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of cavities

Noun

Yet their willingness to talk, listen, and imagine what had seemed impossible helped lay the groundwork for historic nuclear arms reductions.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Beere credited the reductions in part to the department's Ceasefire strategy, which focuses on preventing violence, and stronger partnerships with community members.

— Da Lin, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of reductions

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

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Synonyms of depressions

noun

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