# depressive

/dɪˈpɹɛsɪv/ (US) · /dɪpɹˈɛsɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/depressive
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. causing sadness

adjective · CEFR B2

making you feel very sad or without hope.

For teachers: tending to cause depression or a dispiriting atmosphere.

- The gray weather and empty streets had a depressive effect on his mood.
- The documentary offered a depressive look at the industrial decline of the region, leaving the audience with little sense of hope for the future.

### 2. relating to clinical depression

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

connected to the medical condition of depression.

For teachers: relating to or characteristic of the clinical psychological state of depression.

- She was diagnosed with a depressive disorder after struggling for several months.
- The patient exhibited classic depressive symptoms, including persistent lethargy and a marked loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.

### 3. a person with depression

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a person who suffers from the medical condition of depression.

For teachers: a person suffering from clinical depression. Often used in medical or historical contexts.

- The clinic provides specialized support groups for depressives and their families.
- Early twentieth-century literature often portrayed the chronic depressive as a tragic figure misunderstood by a fast-paced society.

## Examples

- The rainy weather and grey sky felt quite depressive.
- Doctors monitored the patient for depressive symptoms after the major surgery.
- The novel's depressive atmosphere is established through its descriptions of decaying industrial landscapes and the protagonist's persistent sense of isolation.

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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.