depress, v.tr.
1 push or pull down; lower (depressed the lever).
2 make dispirited or dejected.
3 Econ. reduce the activity of (esp. trade).
4 (as depressed adj.) a dispirited or miserable. b Psychol. suffering from depression.

Idiom

depressed area an area suffering from economic depression.

Derivative

depressible adj. depressing adj. depressingly adv.

Etymology

ME f. OF depresser f. LL depressare (as DE-, pressare frequent. of premere press)

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THESAURUS

depress

abridge, bear down, beat down, bring down, bring low, burden, cast down, cheapen, compress, couch, countersink, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, damp, dampen, dampen the spirits, darken, dash, debase, debilitate, decrease, deduct, deepen, deflate, deject, demit, dent, depreciate, detrude, devaluate, devalue, dig, diminish, dimple, dint, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, dive, downbear, downgrade, drill, droop, dull, enervate, engrave, excavate, grieve, haul down, impress, imprint, indent, knock down, lessen, let, let down, lower, lower the spirits, mine, notch, oppress, pare, pit, pock, pockmark, press down, press in, pull down, punch, punch in, push down, recess, reduce, retrench, roll back, sadden, sap, scale down, set back, set in, shorten, simplify, sink, stamp, step down, take down, take from, tamp, thrust down, tune down, tunnel, upset, weaken, weigh down, weigh heavy upon, weigh upon

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ROGET THESAURUS

depress

Dejection

VB be dejected, grieve, mourn, take on, give way, lose heart, despond, droop, sink, lower, look downcast, frown, pout, hang down the head, pull a long face, make a long face, laugh on the wrong side of the mouth, grin a ghastly smile, look blue, look like a drowned man, lay to heart, take to heart, mope, brood over, fret, sulk, pine, pine away, yearn, repine, despair, refrain from laughter, keep one's countenance, be grave, look grave, repress a smile, depress, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, damp, dull, deject, lower, sink, dash, knock down, unman, prostrate, break one's heart, frown upon, cast a gloom, cast a shade on, sadden, damp one's hopes, dash one's hopes, wither one's hopes, weigh on the mind, lie heavy on the mind, prey on the mind, weigh on the spirits, lie heavy on the spirits, prey on the spirits, damp the spirits, depress the spirits.

Dullness

VB be dull, prose, take au serieux, be caught napping, render dull, damp, depress, throw cold water on, lay a wet blanket on, fall flat upon the ear, no joke, serious matter (importance).

Concavity

VB be concave, retire, cave in, render concave, depress, hollow, scoop, scoop out, gouge, gouge out, dig, delve, excavate, dent, dint, mine, sap, undermine, burrow, tunnel, stave in.

Depression

VB depress, lower, let down, take down, let down a peg, take down a peg, cast, let drop, let fall, sink, debase, bring low, abase, reduce, detrude, pitch, precipitate, overthrow, overturn, overset, upset, subvert, prostate, level, fell, cast down, take down, throw down, fling down, dash down, pull down, cut down, knock down, hew down, raze, raze to the ground, rase to the ground, trample in the dust, pull about one's ears, sit, sit down, couch, squat, crouch, stoop, bend, bow, courtesy, curtsy, bob, duck, dip, kneel, bend the knee, bow the knee, bend the head, bow the head, cower, recline.

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