🕷️ Crawler Inspector

- [Featured](https://www.dictionary.com/articles) - [Games](https://www.dictionary.com/games) - [Cultural](https://www.dictionary.com/culture) - [Writing tips](https://www.thesaurus.com/articles) [Dictionary.com](https://www.dictionary.com/) Popular Searches - [generational](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/generational) - [debonair](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/debonair) - [throw in the towel](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/throw-in-the-towel) - [PDF](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/pdf) - [postbiotic](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/postbiotic) - [eccentricity](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/eccentricity) - [ironic](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ironic) [Thesaurus.com](https://www.thesaurus.com/) [American](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/antidepressant#id-sec-entry-group-dcom) [British](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/antidepressant#id-sec-entry-group-british) [Scientific](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/antidepressant#id-sec-entry-group-science) [Etymology](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/antidepressant#id-sec-history-origin) [Examples](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/antidepressant#id-sec-example-sentences) # antidepressant *American* \[an-tee-di-**pres**\-*uh*nt, an-tahy-\] / ˌæn ti dɪˈprɛs ənt, ˌæn taɪ- / *Also* **anti-depressant,** ## adjective 1. of or relating to a substance that is used in the treatment of mood disorders, as characterized by various manic or depressive affects. *** ## noun 1. Also called **energizer, psychic energizer**. any such substance, as a tricyclic antidepressant, MAO inhibitor, or lithium. antidepressant *British* / ˌæntɪdɪˈprɛsənt / ## noun 1. any of a class of drugs used to alleviate depression "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 *** ## adjective 1. of or relating to this class of drugs "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 antidepressant *Scientific* / ăn′tē-dĭ-prĕs**′**ənt,ăn′tī- / 1. A drug used to prevent or treat depression. *** ## Etymology ### Origin of [antidepressant](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/antidepressant#hdr-headword-dcom-1) First recorded in 1960–65; [anti-](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/anti) + [depressant](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/depressant) ## Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. > If ketamine’s antidepressant effect owed to, say, inducing neuroplasticity, the drug should still work even if participants were unconscious. > > From [Slate](https://slate.com/technology/2026/01/fda-ptsd-drug-research-psychedelics.html) • Jan. 30, 2026 > > [](https://slate.com/technology/2026/01/fda-ptsd-drug-research-psychedelics.html) > If you walk into Gilberg’s office demanding an antidepressant prescription, for example, he will suggest you go elsewhere. > > From [Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2026-01-13/beverly-hills-psychiatrist-dr-arnold-gilberg-shares-secrets-in-new-book) • Jan. 13, 2026 > > [](https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2026-01-13/beverly-hills-psychiatrist-dr-arnold-gilberg-shares-secrets-in-new-book) > Nearly one-third of patients do not improve after trying their first antidepressant, often leading to months of trial and error. > > From [Science Daily](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074500.htm) • Jan. 4, 2026 > > [](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074500.htm) > OpenAI noted that the woman in the case study said she was prone to “magical thinking,” and was on an antidepressant and a stimulant and had gone long stretches without sleep before her hospitalizations. > > From [The Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-chatbot-psychosis-link-1abf9d57) • Dec. 28, 2025 > > [](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-chatbot-psychosis-link-1abf9d57) > They’ve upped his antidepressant, which doesn’t seem to make him any less depressed, but helps him to forget that he is. > > From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman > >  Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. [Word of the Day](https://www.dictionary.com/word-of-the-day) [perpend](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/perpend) \[per-**pend**\] Get the Word of the Day [](https://www.dictionary.com/) Over 500,000 expert-authored dictionary and thesaurus entries [Entry list](https://www.dictionary.com/list) [Careers](https://www.ixl.com/company/careers) [Contact us](mailto:support@dictionary.com) [Help](https://help.dictionary.com/) [Cookies, terms & privacy](https://www.dictionary.com/terms-and-privacy) [](https://www.facebook.com/dictionarycom) [](https://www.instagram.com/dictionarycom) [](https://www.x.com/dictionarycom) [](https://www.linkedin.com/company/dictionary.com/) [](https://www.youtube.com/c/DictionarycomVideo) [](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dictionary-com-english-words/id308750436) [](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dictionary&hl=en) [](https://www.ixl.com/) [](https://www.dictionarymedia.com/) IXL Learning's Dictionary Media Group reaches over 500,000,000 learners each year [](https://www.thesaurus.com/) Essential reference for synonyms and antonyms [](https://www.vocabulary.com/) Adaptive learning for English vocabulary [](https://www.words.com/) Fun daily word games [](https://www.ingles.com/) English dictionary and learning for Spanish speakers [](https://www.spanishdict.com/) Spanish-English dictionary, translator, and learning [](https://www.frenchdictionary.com/) French-English dictionary, translator, and learning [](https://www.rosettastone.com/) Immersive learning for 25 languages [](https://www.ixl.com/) Comprehensive K-12 personalized learning [](https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/) Marketplace for millions of educator-created resources [](https://www.education.com/) 35,000+ worksheets, games, and lesson plans [](https://www.abcya.com/) Fun educational games for kids [](https://www.wyzant.com/) Trusted tutors for 300+ subjects [](https://www.multiplication.com/) Math games and learning resources for kids © 2026 Dictionary Media Group, Inc., a division of IXL Learning Opt out of sale of personal data and targeted advertising 

*American* \[an-tee-di-**pres**\-*uh*nt, an-tahy-\] / ˌæn ti dɪˈprɛs ənt, ˌæn taɪ- / *Also* **anti-depressant,** adjective 1. of or relating to a substance that is used in the treatment of mood disorders, as characterized by various manic or depressive affects. *** noun 1. Also called **energizer, psychic energizer**. any such substance, as a tricyclic antidepressant, MAO inhibitor, or lithium. antidepressant *British* / ˌæntɪdɪˈprɛsənt / noun 1. any of a class of drugs used to alleviate depression "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 *** adjective 1. of or relating to this class of drugs "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 antidepressant *Scientific* / ăn′tē-dĭ-prĕs**′**ənt,ăn′tī- / 1. A drug used to prevent or treat depression. *** ## Etymology ### Origin of [antidepressant](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/antidepressant#hdr-headword-dcom-1) First recorded in 1960–65; [anti-](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/anti) + [depressant](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/depressant) ## Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. > If ketamine’s antidepressant effect owed to, say, inducing neuroplasticity, the drug should still work even if participants were unconscious. > > From [Slate](https://slate.com/technology/2026/01/fda-ptsd-drug-research-psychedelics.html) • Jan. 30, 2026 > > [](https://slate.com/technology/2026/01/fda-ptsd-drug-research-psychedelics.html) > If you walk into Gilberg’s office demanding an antidepressant prescription, for example, he will suggest you go elsewhere. > > From [Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2026-01-13/beverly-hills-psychiatrist-dr-arnold-gilberg-shares-secrets-in-new-book) • Jan. 13, 2026 > > [](https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2026-01-13/beverly-hills-psychiatrist-dr-arnold-gilberg-shares-secrets-in-new-book) > Nearly one-third of patients do not improve after trying their first antidepressant, often leading to months of trial and error. > > From [Science Daily](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074500.htm) • Jan. 4, 2026 > > [](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074500.htm) > OpenAI noted that the woman in the case study said she was prone to “magical thinking,” and was on an antidepressant and a stimulant and had gone long stretches without sleep before her hospitalizations. > > From [The Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-chatbot-psychosis-link-1abf9d57) • Dec. 28, 2025 > > [](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-chatbot-psychosis-link-1abf9d57) > They’ve upped his antidepressant, which doesn’t seem to make him any less depressed, but helps him to forget that he is. > > From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman > >  Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.