antidepressant

1 of 2

adjective

an·​ti·​de·​pres·​sant ˌan-tē-di-ˈpre-sᵊnt How to pronounce antidepressant (audio) ˌan-ˌtī- How to pronounce antidepressant (audio)
: used or tending to relieve or prevent depression
antidepressant drugs

antidepressant

2 of 2

noun

Examples of antidepressant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Meanwhile, antidepressant prescription rates in teens increased by 1,400 percent between 1987 and 2014. Between 1999 and 2018, the pharmaceutical industry purportedly spent $4.7 billion on lobbying expenditures at the federal level—more than any other industry. Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025 Serotonin Syndrome Methylene blue interacts with several antidepressant drugs, and the combination can potentially lead to serotonin syndrome, a serious drug reaction caused by high levels of serotonin in the body. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 12 May 2025
Noun
However, there are several effective treatments for symptoms, including hormone therapy, antidepressants, and vaginal lubricants and moisturizers. Wendy Wisner, Health, 23 May 2025 The list includes antidepressants, stimulant medications for ADHD, weight loss drugs, antibiotics and acid suppressants. Alexander Tin, CBS News, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for antidepressant

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1961, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of antidepressant was in 1961

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Cite this Entry

“Antidepressant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antidepressant. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Medical Definition

antidepressant

1 of 2 adjective
an·​ti·​de·​pres·​sant ˌant-i-di-ˈpres-ᵊnt, ˌan-ˌtī- How to pronounce antidepressant (audio)
variants also antidepressive
: used or tending to relieve or prevent psychological depression : relating to, being, or utilizing an antidepressant
an antidepressant drug
antidepressant treatment

antidepressant

2 of 2 noun
variants also antidepressive
: a drug used to treat psychological depression : an antidepressant drug
The dual-action antidepressant venlafaxine appears to demonstrate superior efficacy and higher rates of remission in severe depression as compared with either SSRIs such as fluoxetine or tricyclic antidepressants.John Mann, The New England Journal of Medicine

called also energizer, psychic energizer, psychostimulant

see tricyclic antidepressant
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