major depression
noun
: a serious mood disorder involving one or more episodes of intense psychological depression or loss of interest or pleasure that lasts two or more weeks and is accompanied by irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and sometimes suicidal tendencies : clinical depression, major depressive disorder
Episodes of major depression usually last several months and may recur throughout a lifetime.—
The Harvard Mental Health Letter
The Harvard Mental Health LetterPsychiatrists have found that among distinguished artists, the rates of manic depression and major depression are 10 to 30 times as prevalent as in the population at large.—Natalie Angier
Natalie AngierExamples of major depression in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But a subset of patients can experience major depression during summer months because of the load heat puts on the brain.
—
Mark Prussin,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
Definium Therapeutics said Monday that its LSD therapy significantly helped patients with major depression in its first Phase 3 trial, bringing the psychedelic drug closer to a potential approval.
—
Elaine Chen,
STAT,
22 June 2026
In a statement, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) also stressed the importance of SSRIs in helping people with major depression and suicidality.
—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Ryan said Horner meets the criteria for multiple conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, major depression, ADHD and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for major depression
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Mark Prussin,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
Definium Therapeutics said Monday that its LSD therapy significantly helped patients with major depression in its first Phase 3 trial, bringing the psychedelic drug closer to a potential approval.
—
Elaine Chen,
STAT,
22 June 2026
In a statement, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) also stressed the importance of SSRIs in helping people with major depression and suicidality.
—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Ryan said Horner meets the criteria for multiple conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, major depression, ADHD and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for major depression
Cite this Entry
“Major depression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/major%20depression. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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