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depressing

depressing

219 2.2
Making you feel very sad and that things will not get better
  • adjective
  • /dɪˈprɛsɪŋ/
translation icon : deprimente
  • That movie had a particularly depressing ending that left everyone in the theater feeling sad.
  • a depressing experience
  • depressing music
  • a depressing picture

And if you're not getting those things, it's depressing and discouraging.

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Examples

  • We often turn off when we hear about extinction because it seems so depressing and hopeless.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The events of the past year painted a depressing picture for most of post-communist Europe.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Probably one of the most depressing books I have ever read.

  • That sounds like an interesting and depressing thing to watch on TV.

  • Which is a really depressing concept, actually.

  • What truly was depressing about leaving was that I did not even try.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Looking out the window was depressing, and I was nearly in tears.

    Academic text (2000)
  • School life was too often an unhappy, depressing experience for most children.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Sometimes I wonder if the new curriculum hasn't had a depressing effect on our students.

    Academic text (2005)
  • And that's going to be a little depressing to markets, both bonds and stocks.

Synonyms

sad
vsdepressing
1.0

Feeling unhappy or upset because of something

is used for things that cause deeper, more hopeless sadness
dark
vsdepressing
377 1.0

Feeling gloomy and sad

is stronger, meaning it actively causes deep hopeless sadness
grim
vsdepressing
73 4.2

Sad and hopeless, making things seem very bad

is used more generally for things that cause deep sadness
dismal
vsdepressing
62 4.5

Making you feel sad and hopeless

is similar but defined generally as causing sad, hopeless feelings
dreary
vsdepressing
44 3.8

A gloomy, boring time that makes you feel sad or tired

is broader, meaning anything that causes deep sad or hopeless feeling
melancholy
vsdepressing
37 5.9

Feeling or showing deep sadness

is about causing sad, hopeless feelings rather than an inner state
disheartening
vsdepressing
26 5.2

Causing someone to lose confidence or hope

is focused more on producing sadness and hopelessness rather than just confidence loss
glum
vsdepressing
23 4.1

Looking or feeling sad and quiet

is more about causing deep hopeless sadness rather than a mild low mood
gloomy
vsdepressing
17 2.1

Making people feel sad because of how it looks or feels

is the general label for anything that causes deep sadness
desolate
vsdepressing
11 6.7

Feeling very unhappy and alone after a loss

is broader, referring to causes that make people feel deeply sad and hopeless
downbeat
vsdepressing
8 4.4

Feeling sad and not very hopeful

is broader, describing anything that causes very sad, hopeless feelings
cheerless
vsdepressing
2 5.5

Not bright or warm and making people feel sad

is stronger, meaning it brings deep hopeless sadness rather than mere uncheerfulness
soul-destroying
vsdepressing
1 7.9

Very boring and depressing so you lose interest and energy

describes causing strong sadness but not necessarily total spirit loss
drear
vsdepressing
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A dull, cold, and depressing place or scene

is the everyday term for causing strong sadness and hopelessness
glooming
vsdepressing
1 8.9

Dark and full of shadows in a way that makes you feel sad or scared

is broader, referring to anything that makes people feel very sad
gloomful
vsdepressing
  • Archaic
7.8

Dark and sad in a way that makes you feel unhappy

covers general causes of deep sadness and lack of hope
uncheerful
vsdepressing
5.5

Feeling sad or making a place feel gloomy

is deeper, meaning it causes strong sadness and lack of hope

Antonyms

111 1.0

Happy in a way you show with a smile or friendly actions

How Depressing

devastating
224 5.1
heartbreaking
92 3.7
depressing
219 2.2
sad
1.0
unsettling
64 4.2

Surface Forms

depressing positive
depresseder comparative
depressingest superlative

Morphology

depressing = depress (transparent) = depress + ing

The adjective is a standard -ing form from the verb 'depress', meaning causing sadness or low mood.

Etymology

Depressing comes from the parts de- meaning 'down' and press meaning 'to push', the same root you see in press and pressure. So something depressing is like 'pressing down' on your feelings and making you sad.