depressive

depressive — adjective

IPA/dɪˈpresɪv/
KK[dɪprˈɛsɪv]IPA/dɪˈpresɪv/
  • depressivepositive
  • more depressivecomparative
  • most depressivesuperlative

1. relating to a medical condition marked by prolonged deep sadness and loss of int

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

relating to a medical condition marked by prolonged deep sadness and loss of interest — describes the condition, its symptoms, or the person affected

Example

Takeshi's doctor said the depressive thoughts would slowly lift with regular therapy.

collocation: depressive thoughts

Reuben controls his depressive illness with weekly therapy and a short walk in the park.

collocation: depressive illness

Common collocations
  • depressive illness
  • depressive episode
  • depressive disorder
  • depressive symptoms
  • depressive mood
  • depressive thoughts
Synonyms
  • depressed

    far more common for describing a person's mood; 'depressed' can be used both clinically and informally, while 'depressive' sounds clinical

  • melancholy

    literary or old-fashioned; suggests a gentler, more thoughtful sadness than clinical depression

  • low

    informal and milder; used for temporary sad moods, not a diagnosed condition

Antonyms
  • cheerful

    describes a happy, positive mood — the opposite of a depressive state

Grammar Patterns

depressive + noun (illness, episode, symptoms)

be + depressive

Usage Note

Most common in medical and clinical writing. For personal feelings of temporary sadness, the adjective 'depressed' is more natural in everyday speech — 'She felt depressed after the exam' sounds natural, whereas 'She felt depressive after the exam' sounds clinical and unusual.

Common Mistakes

The rainy weather made everyone feel depressive.
The rainy weather made everyone feel depressed.
'depressive' is used for the medical condition itself or its clinical features, not for ordinary temporary sadness.
That film was really depressive.
That film was really depressing.
'depressing' describes something that causes sadness; 'depressive' relates to the clinical condition of depression.

depressive — noun

IPA/dɪˈpres.ɪv/
KK[dɪprˈɛsɪv]IPA/dɪˈpres.ɪv/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Depressed is the most common word for a state of unhappiness, whether temporary or clinical. Depressive is more formal and clinical, used mainly before nouns such as 'episode' or 'disorder'. Melancholy is a literary, old-fashioned term for a deep but gentle sadness that makes a person thoughtful rather than unable to function. Gloomy describes someone who always expects the worst or looks at the dark side of things. Low is informal and milder, used for passing sad moods, not a diagnosed condition. Examples: 'She felt depressed for weeks after the breakup.' 'He was diagnosed with a depressive disorder.' 'The film had a melancholy ending.' 'Don't be so gloomy — we may still win.' 'I've been feeling a bit low since Monday.'

depressed ↗melancholy ↗gloomy ↗low ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • severely depressive
  • mildly depressive
  • chronically depressive
  • acutely depressive

Phrases

  • depressive phase
  • depressive tendencies
  • depressive features

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Depressive comes from the Latin verb deprimere, meaning 'to press down'. This word passed through French (dépressif) into English in the 1600s. At first it described anything that pressed down or lowered spirits. The medical sense — referring to a specific mental health condition — developed in the 1800s as doctors began to see long-term sadness as an illness rather than a temporary mood.