quite depressing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite depressing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that causes a feeling of sadness or gloominess, often in a subjective manner. Example: "The news about the environmental crisis is quite depressing and makes me worry about the future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And let's face it, the thought is quite depressing.

The Guardian - Film

Before that, I just thought it was a strict religion with a lot of rules that just seemed quite depressing.

Independent

Last year the school adopted the theme of pirates and princesses and all the girls went as princesses which was quite depressing.

The Guardian

Anyway, once you've paid your manager 20% and paid the tax on it, it becomes a smaller and smaller amount which is quite depressing.

The Guardian - Music

As I have said before, by comparison with the supreme court, online public access to other UK courts is quite depressing.

The Guardian

Their mission for the army and police will be to hold on to the bits of Afghanistan that matter the most: the cities, where increasing numbers of Afghans now live, the north, and as much as the rural south as possible.Ten years on, the best Afghanistan can hope for is quite depressing.

The Economist

Happiness is a capacity for being well-deceived, wrote one of Gardiner's satirical precursors, Jonathan Swift, and in The Unavoidable, he holds forth with Swiftian panache: Happiness is a chemical imbalance in the brain triggered by these tranquillity pills, tested to destruction on laboratory rats, whose happiness is quite depressing.

The Guardian - Books

That said, the statistics are quite depressing.

TechCrunch

"The song titles are quite depressing.

Huffington Post

And all of that is quite depressing.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

As someone who is a woman in leadership and someone who dearly loves the Anglican communion, it was quite depressing".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use more direct alternatives, such as "sad" or "disappointing", when trying to reach a wider audience.

Common error

Avoid using "quite depressing" when the situation is only mildly inconvenient or unremarkable. Overusing emotionally charged language can diminish its impact when describing truly serious or upsetting events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite depressing" functions primarily as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that causes sadness or gloom. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status. For example, "The news is "quite depressing"."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quite depressing" is a common adjective phrase used to express a feeling of sadness or discouragement. It's grammatically correct and versatile, fitting into both neutral and informal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms this. While frequently found in News & Media, it's important to use it judiciously to avoid overstating situations. Consider alternatives like "rather disheartening" or "fairly bleak" to fine-tune the emotional tone. By understanding its nuances, you can effectively convey your feelings while maintaining clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather disheartening

Emphasizes the discouraging aspect, focusing on the loss of morale or enthusiasm.

somewhat discouraging

Suggests a moderate level of disappointment, less intense than "quite depressing".

fairly bleak

Highlights the lack of hope or positive outlook, focusing on the grimness of the situation.

pretty grim

Emphasizes the unpleasant and severe nature of the situation.

mildly upsetting

Indicates a slight emotional disturbance or distress.

a bit disheartening

Indicates a slight loss of enthusiasm or hope.

slightly demoralizing

Focuses on the reduction of morale or confidence, but to a lesser extent.

a little sad

Directly expresses a feeling of sorrow, but in a milder way.

somewhat pessimistic

Highlights the inclination to expect negative outcomes.

rather discouraging

Indicates that something makes you lose enthusiasm to do something.

FAQs

What does "quite depressing" mean?

"Quite depressing" means something is somewhat sad or disheartening. It expresses a moderate level of negativity or disappointment.

What can I say instead of "quite depressing"?

You can use alternatives like "rather disheartening", "somewhat discouraging", or "fairly bleak" depending on the context.

Is "quite depressing" formal or informal?

"Quite depressing" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it's more common in neutral or informal settings. More formal alternatives might be more appropriate for professional writing.

How do I use "quite depressing" in a sentence?

You can use "quite depressing" to describe a situation, event, or piece of news that makes you feel somewhat sad or discouraged. For example, "The news about the layoffs was "quite depressing"."