depressive

1 of 2

adjective

de·​pres·​sive di-ˈpre-siv How to pronounce depressive (audio)
dē-
1
: tending to depress
2
: of, relating to, marked by, or affected by psychological depression
depressive symptoms
a depressive patient
depressively adverb

depressive

2 of 2

noun

: one who is affected with or prone to psychological depression

Examples of depressive in a Sentence

Adjective the depressive story about a struggling artist
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Researchers were surprised that the decrease in depressive symptoms was on par or even more significant than the reductions documented in studies of people taking antidepressant medications. Brittney Melton, NPR, 25 Feb. 2025 Tragically, they are killed by their mother, who drowns them in a manic depressive episode while their father is away on business. Nicole Briese, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
Garrett is lost in guilt over the accidental death of a friend, and suffers from dreamlike depressive episodes. Maxim Loskutoff, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025 Rankin has cast himself as the outsider, the solitary depressive and the only Caucasian main role. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for depressive

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of depressive was in 1620

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Depressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depressive. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

depressive

1 of 2 adjective
de·​pres·​sive di-ˈpres-iv How to pronounce depressive (audio)
1
: tending to depress
2
: of, relating to, marked by, or affected by psychological depression
the patient was paranoid and depressive
depressive symptoms

depressive

2 of 2 noun
: one who is affected with or prone to psychological depression
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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