depressive

1 of 2

adjective

de·​pres·​sive di-ˈpre-siv 

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

Synonyms of depressive

Adjective

• bleak
• depressing
• lonely
• somber
• dark
• desolate
• darkening
• morbid
• solemn
• depressed
• murky
• lonesome
• miserable
• cold
• gray

Examples of depressive in a Sentence

Adjective

the depressive story about a struggling artist

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Treating depressive symptoms without looking at factors such as childhood trauma, the loss of a loved one, or being laid off from a job is an incomplete approach, many mental health researchers and clinicians say. —Aneri Pattani, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026

Contemplative depressive indie band The Mountain Goats, May 17 at College Street Music Hall. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026

Noun

While these factors are not direct links to postpartum depressive symptoms, reducing anxiety in particular may later be shown to reduce maternal depression in the newborn period. —Nina Shapiro, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2026

The lead singer was a famous depressive. —Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1912, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing depressive

• major depressive disorder
• manic-depressive
• manic-depressive illness

Rhymes for depressive

• aggressive
• compressive
• concessive
• excessive
• expressive
• impressive
• obsessive
• oppressive
• possessive
• progressive
• recessive
• regressive

Medical Definition

depressive

1 of 2 adjective

de·​pres·​sive di-ˈpres-iv 

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