# depressing

/dɪˈpɹɛsɪŋ/ (US) · /dɪpɹˈɛsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/depressing
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. causing sadness

adjective · CEFR B1

making you feel very sad, unhappy, or without hope.

For teachers: inducing a state of low spirits, sadness, or despondency.

- The rainy weather and grey skies were very depressing after a week of sunshine.
- The documentary offered a depressing look at the long-term effects of urban decay on the local community.

### 2. economic reduction

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

causing a decrease in business activity or making prices go down.

For teachers: tending to reduce economic activity, lower prices, or decrease market value.

- High interest rates can have a depressing effect on the housing market.
- Economists warned that the new trade tariffs would have a depressing influence on consumer spending throughout the next fiscal quarter.

## Examples

- The news about the factory closing is very depressing.
- It was a depressing winter afternoon with grey skies and constant rain that kept everyone indoors.
- The documentary offers a depressing look at the environmental damage caused by decades of unregulated industrial growth in the region.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.