Depressing: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe situations, news, or environments that create a strong feeling of sadness or hopelessness.

• The movie was so depressing that it made me cry.
• The weather has been so depressing lately with all the rain.

Describes a general feeling of unhappiness or low spirits, often in response to a specific event or situation.

• She felt sad when her friend moved away.
• It's sad to see so many abandoned pets.

Used when describing someone’s feelings of great discomfort or unhappiness. Can also refer to weather or conditions that cause discomfort.

• I felt miserable after catching a cold.
• The students were miserable in the freezing classroom.

Implies deep and often poignant sadness, usually due to a significant loss or tragedy.

• The sorrowful woman mourned the passing of her husband.
• His sorrowful eyes told a story of deep loss.

Can describe a person’s mood or the appearance of a place. Implies darkness or a lack of light, and often a feeling of pessimism or sadness.

• She has been in a gloomy mood ever since the breakup.
• The old house had a gloomy atmosphere.

Refers to situations or environments that are physically or atmospherically dreary, often involving a combination of poor weather, poor lighting, and a generally negative mood. Can also describe poor performance.

• The team's dismal performance left the fans disappointed.
• The sky was overcast and the forest looked dismal.

Used to describe something that makes people feel very sad or hopeless.

• The news of the natural disaster was quite depressing
• Her story about losing her job was really depressing

Often implies applying physical pressure to move something to a lower position, but can also refer to decreasing levels of certain metrics or values. It suggests a more forceful action.

• He had to push down the lever to start the machine
• The new regulations might push down the interest rates

Refers to making something decrease in height, amount, or value. Can be used in various contexts, such as physical position or pricing.

• She asked him to lower the volume
• They decided to lower the price of the product

Generally used to talk about making something smaller in size, amount, or degree. It can be applied in diverse contexts from dieting to cost-cutting.

• We need to reduce our expenses to save money
• She managed to reduce her weight significantly through a new diet

Used when talking about a decrease in value, typically in economic or financial contexts. Often implies that the item or subject in question is worth less than its previous value.

• Inflation can devalue the currency rapidly
• The scandal seems to have devalued the company's reputation