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

The other concerns a surprising relationship between recessions and automation, when businesses use technology to do tasks that were previously done by humans.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 20 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

Second-round leader Haeran Ryu, who birdied her last three holes, still led the tournament by four strokes after a 4-under 68 and a three-round total of 17-under 199.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Gaps where electrons can sit, called holes, can also induce superconductivity at not-so-cold temperatures, just in a slightly different way.

— Sven Badoux, New Atlas, 23 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

Oil drilling began in the Bayou in the 1920s, a time of lawless extraction, and for decades, companies would simply dump their wastewater into large, unlined pits, allowing the fluid to seep into the ground.

— Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 27 Oct. 2026
Molcajetes constructed of lava rock with pits creating a rough and not smooth nor easily cleanable surface were in the facility.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 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

Structural studies revealed wide-open cavities that accommodate large plastic polymers.

— Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Will Brantley, president of the Georgia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, said sticky and chewy candies tend to cling to teeth, leaving behind sugary residue that can contribute to cavities.

— Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of cavities

Noun

In an internal memo, Qualcomm Chief Executive Officer Cristiano Amon stated the reductions aim to foster a stronger performance culture and address ongoing shortfalls relative to operational expectations.

— , CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
In a clinical study of 194 patients, 80% of them reported significant reductions in knee pain that lasted for at least a full year after receiving the treatment.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of reductions

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depression

depressions

depressive

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“Depressions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depressions. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of depressions

noun

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