depressing

/di'presiɳ/

Thân thiện

The gray, rainy weather outside is depressing.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Causing feelings of sadness, gloom, or low spirits: Something described as "depressing" has the effect of making people feel unhappy, disheartened, or without hope.
   • Dismal, bleak, or discouraging: It can describe situations, environments, or information that create a sense of pessimism or emotional heaviness.

Usage and Examples

• As an adjective modifying a noun:

  • The constant rain made for a depressing weekend.
  • She shared some depressing news about the company's future.
  • The documentary about climate change was very depressing.

• Used after linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', 'feel':

  • The abandoned house looked depressing.
  • It feels depressing to be stuck inside all day.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "depressing" vs. "depressed": "Depressing" describes something that sadness. "Depressed" describes a person or entity sadness or economic downturn (e.g., a person, a market).
• Impersonal use: Often used to describe abstract concepts, atmospheres, or events rather than people.
  • The depressing state of politics discourages many voters.
• Degree modifiers: Can be intensified with adverbs like "deeply," "profoundly," "incredibly," or "rather."
  • The movie's ending was profoundly depressing.

Variants and Related Words

• Depress (verb): To make someone feel disheartened or to push something down.
  • The bad review depressed her spirits.
• Depressingly (adverb): In a manner that causes depression.
  • The costs were depressingly high.
• Depression (noun): A state of severe despondency and dejection, or a period of economic decline.
  • He suffered from clinical depression.

Synonyms

• Dismal: Causing a mood of gloom or depression.
• Gloomy: Dark or poorly lit, causing a feeling of sadness.
• Bleak: Lacking in warmth, life, or kindliness; depressing.
• Dreary: Dull, bleak, and lifeless; depressing.
• Dispiriting: Causing someone to lose enthusiasm or hope.

Antonyms

• Cheerful: Noticeably happy and optimistic.
• Uplifting: Morally or spiritually elevating; inspiring happiness or hope.
• Encouraging: Giving someone support, confidence, or hope.
• Heartening: Making someone feel cheerful or encouraged.

Common Collocations and Phrases

• Depressing thought: An idea that causes sadness.
  • It's a depressing thought that we might not solve this problem.
• Depressing sight/view: Something seen that induces gloom.
  • The aftermath of the storm was a depressing sight.
• Find something depressing: To experience something as causing sadness.
  • I find rainy Mondays very depressing.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. causing sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy
   • the economic outlook is depressing
   • something cheerless about the room
   • a moody and uncheerful person
   • an uncheerful place

Từ đồng nghĩa

• cheerless
• uncheerful