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
: one who is affected with or prone to psychological depression
Synonyms of depressive
Examples of depressive in a Sentence
Adjective
the depressive story about a struggling artist
Recent Examples on the Web
Jean Case, Time, 14 May 2026
For patients with three or more lifetime depressive episodes, the ASCP itself supports indefinite maintenance therapy.
—Jonathan Slater, STAT, 13 May 2026
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for depressive
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Adjective
And while all researchers recognize numerous factors that contribute to this troubling uptick, a key finding by NIH’s Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study is that screen time in late childhood predicts increased depressive symptoms in early adolescence.
—Jean Case, Time, 14 May 2026
For patients with three or more lifetime depressive episodes, the ASCP itself supports indefinite maintenance therapy.
—Jonathan Slater, STAT, 13 May 2026
Noun
Contemplative depressive indie band The Mountain Goats, May 17 at College Street Music Hall.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for depressive
Cite this Entry
“Depressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depressive. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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