depressive
depressive — adjective
1. relating to a medical condition marked by prolonged deep sadness and loss of int
relating to a medical condition marked by prolonged deep sadness and loss of interest — describes the condition, its symptoms, or the person affected
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
Mira went through a long depressive episode after losing her job at the factory.
Baraka's family noticed his depressive moods and gently urged him to see a doctor.
The clinic runs a support programme for young adults with depressive disorders.
- 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
- cheerful
describes a happy, positive mood — the opposite of a depressive state
文法句型
depressive + noun (illness, episode, symptoms)
be + depressive
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
depressive — noun
1. a person who has a mental health condition that causes long periods of deep unha
a person who has a mental health condition that causes long periods of deep unhappiness and a lack of interest or energy
The support group helped Kian connect with other depressives who understood his struggles.
used in support-group contexts
Selim shared tips on sleep with two fellow depressives while sitting on a park bench.
shows social connection among depressives in a specific setting
Gabriela and four other depressives met every Wednesday at a café to share weekly progress.
Every Tuesday, Wei joined other depressives in the clinic pharmacy line for his medication.
文法句型
a depressive
depressives (plural)
用法筆記
Some people consider this noun reductive because it labels a person by their medical condition. In everyday conversation, 'a person with depression' or 'someone who has depression' is often preferred. The noun form is most acceptable in clinical writing, research, and support groups where members use it to describe themselves.