depressive
gb/dɪpɹˈɛsɪv/ us/dɪpɹˈɛsɪv/
B2
English
depressziós, lehangoló, nyomasztó, depresszióra hajlamos, depressziós beteg, depresszióval élő ember, visszafogó, kedvezőtlen
C1
TECHNICAL
1
depressziós
B2
Usage pattern:
depressive + [symptoms/episode/disorder/state]
The doctor asked about depressive symptoms such as low mood and loss of interest.
Az orvos rákérdezett a depressziós tünetekre, például a rossz hangulatra és az érdeklődés elvesztésére.
She was treated for a depressive episode that lasted several weeks.
Több hétig tartó depressziós epizód miatt kezelték.
The report noted depressive features alongside anxiety.
Learner examples
He has depressive symptoms.
Depressziós tünetei vannak.
This medicine can help with depressive episodes.
Ez a gyógyszer segíthet depressziós epizódok esetén.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse depressive (relating to depression) with depressed (feeling sad).
Meaning
relating to clinical depression
Collocations
depressive symptoms
|depressive episode
|depressive disorder
|depressive illness
|depressive state
|depressive phase
|depressive features
|depressive relapse
|depressive mood
|depressive severity
Synonyms
depression-related (More explicit and often used in academic writing.)
|
clinical (Often implies medical assessment rather than general mood.)
Antonyms
manic (Opposite pole of mood in bipolar disorder contexts.)
|
euphoric (Describes unusually elevated mood rather than low mood.)
Themes
health
|mental_health
|psychology
|medicine
Definition
connected to depression as an illness.
Relating to depression, especially as a medical or psychological condition.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
depressive + [weather/news/film/atmosphere]
The constant rain made the whole week feel depressive.
Az állandó eső miatt az egész hét lehangoló volt.
The documentary was powerful but also deeply depressive.
A dokumentumfilm erőteljes volt, de egyben mélyen lehangoló is.
It’s a depressive thought to imagine the city without its parks.
Learner examples
This movie is very depressive.
Ez a film nagyon lehangoló.
The dark weather feels depressive.
A sötét idő nagyon lehangoló.
Common mistake:
Depressive describes something that causes a low mood; depressed describes a person’s feelings.
Meaning
making you feel sad
Collocations
depressive weather
|a depressive atmosphere
|depressive news
|a depressive mood
|a depressive film
|depressive thoughts
|a depressive setting
|depressive music
|a depressive feeling
|a depressive tone
Synonyms
gloomy (More common and less intense in many contexts.)
|
dispiriting (Emphasizes loss of confidence or enthusiasm.)
Antonyms
uplifting (Creates a more positive, hopeful feeling.)
|
cheerful (Bright and happy in tone or mood.)
Themes
emotions
|everyday_life
Definition
making you feel very sad or without hope.
Making you feel sad, hopeless, or lacking energy; gloomy and dispiriting.
C1
3
Usage pattern:
a depressive [person/personality/temperament]
He isn’t always unhappy, but he can be depressive during stressful periods.
Nem mindig boldogtalan, de stresszes időszakokban depressziós tud lenni.
Her friends describe her as thoughtful, not depressive, despite her quiet style.
A barátai inkább elgondolkodónak írják le, nem depressziós alkatnak, a csendes stílusa ellenére.
The therapist helped him notice depressive patterns in his thinking.
Learner examples
She can be depressive in winter.
Télen depressziós tud lenni.
Common mistake:
This sense describes a tendency over time, not a single moment (for that, use depressed).
Meaning
prone to feeling depressed
Collocations
a depressive personality
|depressive tendencies
|a depressive temperament
|a depressive outlook
|depressive traits
|depressive thinking
|a depressive type
Synonyms
melancholic (Often more literary and less clinical.)
|
downbeat (More informal and usually less serious.)
Antonyms
optimistic (Expecting good outcomes rather than focusing on negative ones.)
|
upbeat (More positive and energetic in attitude.)
Themes
emotions
|people
|personality
Definition
often sad or likely to become depressed.
Often feeling depressed or tending toward depression in mood or temperament.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
a depressive; depressives
In older clinical writing, patients were sometimes described as depressives.
Régebbi klinikai írásokban a pácienseket néha depressziós betegeknek nevezték.
The clinic’s program was designed for depressives who had frequent relapses.
A klinika programját olyan depressziós betegek számára tervezték, akiknél gyakoriak voltak a visszaesések.
Learner examples
Some books use the word depressive to mean a person with depression.
Egyes könyvek a depressive szót a depressziós beteg jelentésében használják.
Common mistake:
This noun can sound clinical or outdated; many speakers prefer person with depression.
Meaning
person with depression
Collocations
a depressive
|chronic depressives
|treat depressives
|support for depressives
Synonyms
person with depression (More common and person-first in modern usage.)
Antonyms
non-depressed person (Simply indicates absence of depression, not a personality type.)
Themes
health
|mental_health
|people
Definition
a person who has depression.
A person who has depression or experiences repeated depressive episodes.
C1
FORMAL
5
visszafogó
B2
kedvezőtlen
B2
Usage pattern:
depressive + [effect/influence/conditions/impact]
Higher interest rates can have a depressive effect on borrowing.
A magasabb kamatlábak visszafogó hatással lehetnek a hitelfelvételre.
The uncertainty created depressive conditions for investment.
A bizonytalanság kedvezőtlen feltételeket teremtett a beruházások számára.
The new tax was criticized as depressive for small businesses.
Learner examples
Bad news can have a depressive effect on sales.
A rossz hírek visszafogó hatással lehetnek az eladásokra.
Common mistake:
In this sense, depressive describes an effect on activity (e.g., sales), not an emotion.
Meaning
causing economic or general decline
Collocations
a depressive effect
|depressive conditions
|a depressive influence
|a depressive impact
|depressive forces
|depressive pressure
|depressive policy
Synonyms
dampening (More common; suggests reducing strength rather than causing sadness.)
|
contractionary (More technical; often used for economic policy.)
Antonyms
stimulative (Encouraging growth or increased activity.)
|
expansionary (Often used for policies that increase economic activity.)
Themes
business
|economics
|society
Definition
causing things to become weaker or less active, especially the economy.
Tending to reduce activity, growth, or confidence, especially in economic or social conditions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
depressive
IPA
GB/dɪpɹˈɛsɪv/
US/dɪpɹˈɛsɪv/
Syllables & stress
de - press - ive (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (press)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: depressive
Noun
- Base: depressive
- Plural: depressives
Word family
Forms
depressives
noun
Core family
Related words
depressingly
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
antidepressant
noun
Advanced or less common
depressant
noun
Expressions
depressive disorder
1/dɪpɹˈɛsɪv dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
type of depression condition
an illness where depression is the main symptom.
Examples
- The study compared anxiety disorders and depressive disorders.
- She receives treatment for a depressive disorder.
- Family history can increase the risk of a depressive disorder.
Learner examples
- He is being treated for a depressive disorder.
depressive episode
1/dɪpɹˈɛsɪv ˈɛpɪsˌoʊd/
fixed phrase
technical
period of depression
a time when someone has depression symptoms.
Examples
- She experienced a depressive episode during her first year at university.
- The therapist helped him recognize early signs of a depressive episode.
- Medication reduced the length of each depressive episode.
Learner examples
- He had a depressive episode last year.
depressive phase
1/dɪpɹˈɛsɪv fˈeɪz/
fixed phrase
technical
low-mood period in cycles
a time when someone is in a low mood, especially in a cycle.
Examples
- During the depressive phase, she found it hard to get out of bed.
- He learned strategies to manage sleep during a depressive phase.
- The doctor asked whether the depressive phase alternated with high-energy periods.
Learner examples
- During a depressive phase, he feels very tired.
depressive symptoms
1/dɪpɹˈɛsɪv sˈɪmptəmz/
fixed phrase
technical
signs of depression
signs that someone may have depression.
Examples
- After the breakup, he noticed depressive symptoms that lasted more than two weeks.
- Depressive symptoms are common, but they can have many causes.
- She kept a journal to track depressive symptoms over time.
Learner examples
- She has depressive symptoms.
- He talked to a doctor about depressive symptoms.
major depressive disorder
1/mˈeɪd͡ʒɚ dɪpɹˈɛsɪv dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
clinical depression diagnosis
a medical diagnosis for serious, long-lasting depression.
Examples
- He was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and started treatment.
- Major depressive disorder can affect sleep, appetite, and concentration.
- The clinician screened for major depressive disorder during the visit.
Learner examples
- She was diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
manic-depressive illness
1/mˈænɪk dɪpɹˈɛsɪv ˈɪlnəs/
fixed phrase
technical
older term for bipolar disorder
an old name for bipolar disorder.
Examples
- Older books may refer to bipolar disorder as manic-depressive illness.
- She read an early memoir that used the term manic-depressive illness.
- The clinician explained that manic-depressive illness is now commonly called bipolar disorder.
Learner examples
- Manic-depressive illness is an older term for bipolar disorder.