depress
verb
de·press di-ˈpres 
dē-
depressed; depressing; depresses
transitive verb
1
obsolete : repress, subjugate
2
a
: to press down
depress a typewriter key
b
: to cause to sink to a lower position
3
: to lessen the activity or strength of
drugs that may depress the appetite
4
: sadden, discourage
don't let the news depress you
5
: to decrease the market value or marketability of
depressible
di-ˈpre-sə-bəl
adjective dē-
Synonyms
- bum (out)
- burden
- dash
- deject
- get down
- oppress
- sadden
- weigh down
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The news seemed to depress him a little. I don't mean to depress you, but there's no way we can win. We were all depressed by the loss. You shouldn't let this kind of problem depress you. These changes could depress the economy. Market conditions are likely to depress earnings in the next quarter. depressing the price of a stock Slowly depress the car's brake pedal. Depress the “shift” key on your keyboard. The doctor will depress your tongue and look at your throat. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Covid cases in China began to rise in early August, leading to lockdowns in several cities, threatening to depress factory operations and consumer confidence even further. 
Stella Yifan Xie, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 On Friday, the Disklavier piano was turned toward the audience, allowing viewers to watch for the moments when the Voyager software — running on a nearby computer — elected to depress the keys of the Disklavier. New York Times, 22 Aug. 2022 Another tell tale sign is whether expectations of weaker demand bring the oil price down towards USD 75 per barrel, a shift that cosmetically would help to depress inflation. Mike O'sullivan, Forbes, 11 June 2022 Gelsinger has warned shareholders that the spending spree will depress profit margins for several years. oregonlive, 30 Mar. 2022 Last year, Desai filed an amicus brief on behalf of Democratic activist groups including Fair Fight Action, arguing that measures ending ballot harvesting were designed to depress voter turnout among minority communities. Gregory Svirnovskiy, The Arizona Republic, 13 July 2022 Markets will have to adjust Zero percent interest rates depress government bond rates, essentially forcing investors to bet on riskier assets like stocks. Matt Egan, CNN, 27 July 2022 Many economists and investors expect higher energy prices and supply disruptions stemming from the war to depress growth in Europe. Caitlin Mccabe, WSJ, 20 May 2022 Congressional inaction, in particular, can frustrate and depress voter turnout, saidJohn Della Volpe, director of polling at Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. Anumita Kaur, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2022 See More
Stella Yifan Xie, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 On Friday, the Disklavier piano was turned toward the audience, allowing viewers to watch for the moments when the Voyager software — running on a nearby computer — elected to depress the keys of the Disklavier. New York Times, 22 Aug. 2022 Another tell tale sign is whether expectations of weaker demand bring the oil price down towards USD 75 per barrel, a shift that cosmetically would help to depress inflation. Mike O'sullivan, Forbes, 11 June 2022 Gelsinger has warned shareholders that the spending spree will depress profit margins for several years. oregonlive, 30 Mar. 2022 Last year, Desai filed an amicus brief on behalf of Democratic activist groups including Fair Fight Action, arguing that measures ending ballot harvesting were designed to depress voter turnout among minority communities. Gregory Svirnovskiy, The Arizona Republic, 13 July 2022 Markets will have to adjust Zero percent interest rates depress government bond rates, essentially forcing investors to bet on riskier assets like stocks. Matt Egan, CNN, 27 July 2022 Many economists and investors expect higher energy prices and supply disruptions stemming from the war to depress growth in Europe. Caitlin Mccabe, WSJ, 20 May 2022 Congressional inaction, in particular, can frustrate and depress voter turnout, saidJohn Della Volpe, director of polling at Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. Anumita Kaur, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French depresser, from Latin depressus, past participle of deprimere to press down, from de- + premere to press — more at press
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
depress
verb
de·press di-ˈpres
depressed; depressing
1
: to press down
Depress the "enter" key.
2
: to make sad or discouraged Don't let the news depress you.
3
: to lessen the activity or strength of
Bad weather had depressed sales.
Medical Definition
depress
transitive verb
de·press di-ˈpres
1
: to diminish the activity, strength, or yield of
able to depress irritability of the heart muscle by the use of such a drug as procaine
2
: to lower in spirit or mood
depress
verb
1
as in to sadden
to make sad the thought of once again failing the bar exam depressed me Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sadden
- deject
- oppress
- trouble
- burden
- worry
- disturb
- weigh down
- concern
- bother
- distress
- discourage
- afflict
- dispirit
- get down
- unsettle
- ail
- dishearten
- torment
- perturb
- unnerve
- bum (out)
- upset
- unhinge
- torture
- demoralize
- daunt
- dash
- agitate
- dismay
- undo
- discompose
- discomfort
- disquiet
- exercise
- freak (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lighten
- stimulate
- brighten
- assure
- rejoice
- invigorate
- gladden
- enliven
- reassure
- excite
- soothe
- buoy
- animate
- inspire
- encourage
- cheer (up)
- comfort
- console
- please
- lift
- elevate
- gratify
- uplift
- elate
- delight
- boost
- hearten
- solace
- exhilarate
2
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
- throw
- drop
- lower
- flatten
- throw down
- topple
- level
- sink
- submerge
- strike down
- floor
- immerse
- plop
- fumble
- knock down
- knock over
- bungle
- plunk down
- bobble
- foozle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lift
- raise
- pick up
3
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
- reduce
- lower
- attenuate
- devalue
- cheapen
- sink
- devaluate
- shrink
- depreciate
- downgrade
- mark down
- write down
- debase
- break
- write off
- undervalue
- underrate
- underestimate
- compress
- lessen
- deflate
- underprice
- demonetize
- abridge
- moderate
- dwindle
- downsize
- contract
- de-escalate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- enhance
- inflate
- appreciate
- upgrade
- mark up
- increase
- blow up
- overestimate
- heighten
- augment
- raise
- amplify
- add
- extend
- maximize
- enlarge
- expand
- boost
- swell
- multiply
- escalate
- dilate
- overrate
- bloat
- overvalue
- overprice
- compound
- up
- aggrandize
- balloon
4
as in to press
to push steadily against with some force depressed the lever to start the machine Synonyms & Similar Words
- press
- shove
- compress
- compel
- pressure
- force
- squeeze
- punch
- bear (down on)
- weigh (on or upon)
- mash
- propel
- squish
- constrict
- thrust
- muscle
- wring
- squash
- squoosh
- wedge
- condense
- crush
- scrunch
- drive
- compact
- stuff
- cram
- jam
- lean (on or against)
- contract
- pack
- jam-pack
- throughfall
- throughfare
- throughgoing
- throughither
- throughline
- throughly
- throughother
- throughout
- throughouter
- throughoutest
- throughoutter
- throughouttest
- throughput
- throughputs
- throughs
- throughway
- throughways
- throve
- throve on
- throw
- throw (on)
- throw (someone) a bone
- throw (someone) a curve/curveball
- throw (someone) a kiss
- throw (someone) for a loop