antidepressant

1 of 2

adjective

an·​ti·​de·​pres·​sant ˌan-tē-di-ˈpre-sᵊnt How to pronounce antidepressant (audio) ˌan-ˌtī- How to pronounce antidepressant (audio)
: used or tending to relieve or prevent depression
antidepressant drugs

antidepressant

2 of 2

noun

Examples of antidepressant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
These omegas are anti-inflammatory powerhouses, known to reduce body and brain inflammation through a bunch of different pathways that researchers suspect may have antidepressant effects. Erica Sloan, SELF, 25 July 2025 Certain studies have found a slightly elevated risk of miscarriage associated with antidepressant use in pregnancy. Josh Feldman, NBC news, 22 July 2025
Noun
But some classes of medications — from some beta blockers to diuretics to antidepressants — can affect the way people's bodies react to, or perceive, heat. Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 30 July 2025 The current review found a total of 37 trials on St. John’s wort, with more showing effects against placebo than no effects, with similar or better results than antidepressants, Frost says. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for antidepressant

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1961, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of antidepressant was in 1961

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Cite this Entry

“Antidepressant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antidepressant. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

Medical Definition

antidepressant

1 of 2 adjective
an·​ti·​de·​pres·​sant ˌant-i-di-ˈpres-ᵊnt, ˌan-ˌtī- How to pronounce antidepressant (audio)
variants also antidepressive
: used or tending to relieve or prevent psychological depression : relating to, being, or utilizing an antidepressant
an antidepressant drug
antidepressant treatment

antidepressant

2 of 2 noun
variants also antidepressive
: a drug used to treat psychological depression : an antidepressant drug
The dual-action antidepressant venlafaxine appears to demonstrate superior efficacy and higher rates of remission in severe depression as compared with either SSRIs such as fluoxetine or tricyclic antidepressants.John Mann, The New England Journal of Medicine

called also energizer, psychic energizer, psychostimulant

see tricyclic antidepressant
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