WordLens

depress

1 of 1verb
/dɪˈprɛs/
Forms:depresses,depressing,depressed,depressed
1

to make someone feel extremely sad or discouraged, often as a result of challenging situations, such as loss

transitive
  • The constant rain seemed to depress him even more.
  • Losing her job depressed her for months.
  • The news of his illness deeply depressed his family.
  • Witnessing the destruction caused by the natural disaster depressed the entire town.
  • Rejection from his dream college depressed him for weeks.
Synonyms:
cast downdemoralizeget downdejectdismaydemoralisedispirit
Antonyms:
elate
2

to lower the market value or reduce the market appeal of a product

C2transitive
  • Overproduction of a certain product may depress its market value as supply exceeds demand.
  • Negative reviews and publicity can depress the market appeal of a once-popular consumer item.
  • The introduction of a more affordable alternative can depress the market value of a premium product.
  • Natural disasters or geopolitical events can depress the market value of commodities like oil or precious metals.
  • Economic uncertainty can depress the value of stocks, leading to declines in investment portfolios.
3

to reduce the intensity, activity, or strength of something

transitive
  • The medication helped depress his symptoms of anxiety.
  • He tried to depress his excitement, but it was hard to stay calm.
  • The heat can depress plant growth, especially in drought conditions.
  • The intense competition seemed to depress her enthusiasm for the project.
  • Long periods of stress can depress the immune system, making one more vulnerable to illness.
4

to apply force that pushes something downward

transitive
  • The mechanic depressed the lever to release the brake.
  • He accidentally depressed the pedal too hard, causing the car to speed up.
  • He depressed the button to start the machine.
  • The weight of the snow depressed the roof, causing it to cave in.
Synonyms:
press down
5

to lower or cause to move downward in position

transitive
  • The weight of the snow depressed the branches of the tree, bending them towards the ground.
  • Prolonged rainfall can depress the water level in rivers and reservoirs.
  • The pressure from the pile of books caused the shelf to depress.
  • The strong winds seemed to depress the surface of the water.
Synonyms:
lower