DEPRESS Synonyms: 172 Similar and Opposite Words

depress

verb

di-ˈpres

Definition of depress

as in to oppress

to make sad the thought of once again failing the bar exam depressed me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to throw

to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally construction workers depressed the roadbed in order to make way for an overpass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reduce

to diminish the price or value of the glut of wheat on the market has depressed that commodity for most of the past year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to press

to push steadily against with some force depressed the lever to start the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 depress Ken Urker, the partner of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, made comments about being depressed before being found dead in his Louisiana home from an apparent drug overdose, authorities said. — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026 However, the forecast predicts that AI investment will begin to produce job gains next year and in 2028, even as the cuts have depressed California’s jobs picture. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 The throuple moved into faculty housing, where Lakofski withered, depressed by life in a conventional apartment. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2026 Growth in the world’s second-largest economy softened to its slowest in more than three years in the second quarter, as a multiyear property downturn continued to depress consumer demand and investment in real estate and infrastructure. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for depress

Verb

At the sectarian level, Baptists ridiculed Quakers, Presbyterians oppressed Anabaptists.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Look what women can do when they’re not abused, oppressed, and angry about being abused and oppressed!

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of oppress

Verb

Charlotte also turned the ball over on its first possession of the second half when Naz Reid (a game-high seven turnovers, but also a team-high 17 points) threw it away.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
Just over a week before Wicker began filming in Hungary, costume designers András Dániel Tóth and Attila Godena-Juhász, who work together as András + Attila, were thrown one big curveball.

— Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of throw

Verb

Integrating the interceptor into existing launch infrastructure could reduce the need for extensive equipment changes.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
People can donate clean costumes and pick a new one, reducing waste and the resources and emissions required to make new ones.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

Meanwhile, Israel pressed ahead with a broad military operation in the occupied West Bank in response to an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three in the city of Hebron on Friday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
There was the woman on the sixth floor, who often forgot her keys and would press our buzzer to get Dad to go out and open the door for her.

— Souvankham Thammavongsa, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of press

Verb

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said on social media that she was saddened.

— Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
Al Jardine, a fellow Beach Boys co-founder who tours in a separate group and has sharply criticized Love’s behavior in the past, is saddened about how his former friend arrived at this point.

— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of sadden

Verb

New Jersey won its second straight to improve to 6-4-0, while the Ducks dropped their fifth in a row to fall to 4-6-0.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Clouds mostly clear out over the weekend as Saturday high temperatures reach 59 in the afternoon and overnight lows drop to 37.

— Hali Smith October 23, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of drop

Verb

But hiding appliances isn’t quite as simple as shoving them into a cabinet and calling it a day.

— Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2026
Houston's Tari Eason was ejected with about three minutes left in the first quarter after receiving a flagrant foul 2 for shoving Washington to the court.

— CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of shove

Verb

But many of the vehicles still lack the cash flow to pay interest and remain burdened with unprofitable public projects, S&P said.

— Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Supporters say restricting the program to new homes could spur construction; critics warn down payment debt could burden buyers.

— Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of burden

Browse Nearby Words

depredators

depress

depressant

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Style

“Depress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depress. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of depress

verb

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