depressing

Making you feel sad or without hope.

• The news is depressing.
• We watched a depressing film last night.
• It is depressing to see so many empty shops.

How to use it: find something depressing (I find these dark winter mornings depressing.)

Similar words: sad, discouraging, disheartening

Opposites: cheerful, uplifting

Common phrases: depressing news, depressing thought, depressing film

Making business activity, spending, or production decrease.

• The policy had a depressing effect on trade.
• High borrowing costs exert a depressing influence on demand.
• The report describes the economically depressing consequences of the crisis.

How to use it: depressing effect on something (Higher taxes had a depressing effect on investment.)

Similar words: contractionary

Opposites: stimulating

Common phrases: depressing effect, economically depressing, depressing influence

Making something move down or fall to a lower level.

• She is depressing the brake pedal.
• The machine starts by depressing this button.
• Falling demand is depressing house prices.

How to use it: be depressing something (Cheap imports are depressing prices.)

Similar words: lowering, pressing down

Opposites: raising

Common phrases: depressing the pedal, depressing a button, depressing prices