Are you writing a character who suffers from depression in your novel? If you need some advice on how to describe a depressed person in a story, take a look at the following 10 words below.
1. Desolate
Definition
Forlorn, bereft; a feeling of great unhappiness or loneliness.
Examples
“She felt desolate and alone in the empty house, surrounded by memories of her ex-husband.”
“The orphaned teen was desolate, searching for someone to take him in.”
How it Adds Description
The word “desperate” suggests that a character is beyond simply feeling sad or down and is instead experiencing a deep sense of misery and depression. This can be used to create a situation where they make impulsive decisions, seek out dangerous solutions, or take drastic actions due to a lack of concern about consequences or to alleviate their pain.
2. Dismal
Definition
Gloomy, bleak; showing a complete lack of happiness.
Examples
“The weather outside was dire, matching her continually dismal mood perfectly as she sat alone in her room.”
“The news of his father’s sudden death only deepened his dismal state of mind.”
How it Adds Description
The word “dismal” describes a character’s mood or outlook on life, allowing the reader to better understand the severity of their depression. It can be used as a pivotal moment that leads someone to seek help or make changes to improve their mental health, acting as a catalyst for the character to grow and change their anticipated outcome.
3. Melancholic
Definition
Sorrowful, mournful; expressing sadness attributed to no fixed issue.
Examples
“She had always been a melancholic person, prone to feeling sad and withdrawn even on good days.”
“The young woman had suffered many great losses that lead to her constant melancholic state.”
How it Adds Description
The word “melancholic” reflects a person who is deeply and persistently sad, often with a sense of loss or longing. A melancholic character might be struggling to come to terms with a recent tragedy or loss, leading to a range of actions and reactions such as seeking solace in vices, withdrawing from loved ones, or searching to find themselves through art or spirituality.
4. Dejected
Definition
Disheartened, discouraged; without hope.
Examples
“After receiving yet another rejection letter, he couldn’t help but feel dejected.”
“The dejected father watched as they removed his lifeless son from his car.”
How it Adds Description
The word “dejected” evokes a strong emotional response from the reader, creating a sense of empathy and understanding for the character’s struggles. It conveys the severity of their emotional state, emphasizing their feelings of gloom and isolation. This can leave readers invested in how the character will overcome their mental state and find a way to move forward.
5. Apathetic
Definition
Indifferent, unresponsive; feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
Examples
“He had become apathetic towards his work, no longer caring about the outcome or putting in any effort.”
“Her apathetic response was the result of many months of tragedy and declining mental health.”
How it Adds Description
The word “apathetic” suggests a lack of emotion or interest in the world around a character. This can hinder their ability to take action or make decisions. This can deepen the reader’s understanding of the character’s mental state and make them more relatable or create a sense of frustration as they allow things to happen to themself or others instead of intervening.
6. Despairing
Definition
Doomed, defeated; showing a complete loss of hope.
Examples
“She was despairing after losing her job and her relationship in the same week.”
“The despairing look in his eyes spoke volumes about his current state of mind.”
How it Adds Description
The word “despairing” shows the level to which a character’s emotions have sunk due to events that have affected them in adverse ways. It can serve as a point of change where someone experiences a great loss or setback that alters their behavior in some significant way, leading them to fight to make things better or become an agent of chaos.
7. Miserable
Definition
Wretched, dreary; extremely unhappy, or uncomfortable.
Examples
“It was obvious that Shelly was a miserable person from the way she treated others.”
“He felt miserable after the breakup and couldn’t seem to shake off the feeling.”
How it Adds Description
The word “miserable” evokes a sense of overwhelming anguish. Characters can experience this sort of mindset long-term, leaving people to accept it as the way they are, or it could be temporary, based on recent events. It can be a useful tool to explore a character’s backstory or as a way of explanation for their interactions with others.
8. Defeated
Definition
Demoralized, crushed; feeling overcome or beaten by difficulties.
Examples
“After his wife left and his home burned, he felt completely defeated and didn’t know how to move forward.”
“The defeated look on her face showed that she had given up completely.”
How it Adds Description
The word “defeated” proposes a sense of utter despondency and resignation, as if the character has already given up on any possibility of overcoming their struggles. This mindset may cause a character to make self-destructive choices or give up on important goals, creating obstacles for themselves and potentially leading to further complications in the story.
9. Hopeless
Definition
Pessimistic, bleak: demonstrating a lack of expectation or belief in a positive outcome.
Examples
“She felt hopeless about her future after the latest setback with her formula.”
“The dire situation of the refugees left him feeling helpless and frustrated.”
How it Adds Description
The word “hopeless” indicates that a character has lost all faith in themselves and the world around them and that their situation is unlikely to improve. This can be a pivotal moment in the plot, as it may signal a turning point for the character – either they will continue to spiral downward, or they will find a way to begin the process of healing and recovery.
10. Withdrawn
Definition
Unresponsive, isolated; not wanting to communicate or to take part in anything.
Examples
“He had become withdrawn, preferring to spend most of his time alone.”
“Her withdrawn demeanor at the party suggested that something was bothering her.”
How it Adds Description
The word “withdrawn” implies that the character has become isolated and is actively avoiding social interaction. It proposes that they have retreated further into themselves and are in danger of becoming more deeply entrenched in their depression. This characterization can evoke empathy from the reader, as they may recognize the character’s struggles from their own experiences.