deprimieren
to depress
To make someone feel down, sad, or discouraged.
EXAMPLE
Das ständige schlechte Wetter deprimiert mich total.
The constant bad weather totally depresses me.
deprimieren
to depress
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Meanings
Usage tips
Sentence structure
The verb 'deprimieren' (to depress) is used actively, with the cause of the sadness as the subject and the person who becomes sad as the accusative object. The pattern is: Something depresses someone.
EXAMPLE
Die ständige Kritik deprimiert die Mitarbeiter.
The constant criticism depresses the employees.
Participle as adjective
Very often, the past participle 'deprimiert' (depressed) is used as an adjective with the verb 'sein' (to be) to describe a person's state. It answers the question 'Wie fühlst du dich?' (How do you feel?).
EXAMPLE
Nach der Absage war er tagelang deprimiert.
After the rejection, he was depressed for days.
Typical causes
The subject of the verb 'deprimieren' (to depress) is often abstract things or situations that trigger a negative mood. Common examples are 'das Wetter' (the weather), 'die Nachrichten' (the news), 'die Einsamkeit' (loneliness), or 'ein Misserfolg' (a failure).
EXAMPLE
Die Nachricht von der Werksschließung deprimierte die ganze Stadt.
The news of the factory closure depressed the whole town.
Compare with
deprimieren vs entmutigen
to discourage
Deprimieren mainly describes making someone sad or downhearted. Entmutigen, on the other hand, emphasizes that someone loses the courage or motivation to keep going. After a defeat, both effects can occur; the intended meaning determines which verb to use.
deprimieren
Die Niederlage deprimierte ihn so sehr, dass er den ganzen Abend traurig war.
The defeat depressed him so much that he was sad all evening.
entmutigen
Die Niederlage entmutigte ihn so sehr, dass er nicht mehr weitertrainieren wollte.
The defeat discouraged him so much that he no longer wanted to keep training.
In real life
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