Meanings
pads1
- pluralplural of pad
- indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of pad
PADS2
- abbreviationinitialismneologismslanguncountablelifestyleInitialism of post-Avatar depression syndrome (“a feeling of depression brought upon by watching the 2009 epic science fiction film Avatar or its sequels, as a result of not being able to experience the movie's world in real life”).First known use 2010
Fans complained about suffering from it back in 2009, so could we see a return to PADS?
2022 December 16, George Hancorn, “Why are some worried the latest Avatar film might make them depressed?”, in ITV News, archived from the original on 20 Dec 20224 more examples
News reports have appeared recently speaking of people who see Avatar and subsequently fall into a deep depression at their inability to access a world in reality as beautiful, entrancing and spiritual as Pandora, the mythical planet depicted in the film. But before you join a Post Avatar Depression Syndrome (PADS) support group, consider the lesson of the spilled Coke, or really, one of the lessons of LSD.
2010 February 23, Eliezer Sobel, “Post-Avatar-Depression-Syndrome (PADS)”, in Reality Sandwich, archived from the original on 17 Sep 2013The condition went by different names: "Avatar" Syndrome, Post-Pandoran Depression or PADS (Post-"Avatar" Depression Syndrome).
[2022 November 30, Jamie Lauren Keiles, “'Avatar' and the Mystery of the Vanishing Blockbuster”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 08 Dec 2022But no, PADS is not a medically recognised condition – nor does it seem to be a PR campaign. It is an observable phenomenon.
2022 December 15, Sian Cain, “'Post-Avatar depression syndrome': why do fans feel blue after watching James Cameron's film?”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 15 Dec 2022When Avatar first hit cinemas in 2009, P.A.D.S spread among the masses: Post-Avatar Depression Syndrome. This isn't a joke, thousands of viewers sought comfort online from not being able to experience the wonders of Pandora outside movie theaters.
2022 December 17, Cameron Frew, “Avatar 2: What happened to Earth?”, in Dexerto, archived from the original on 19 Dec 2022Synonyms: Avatar blues, PAD, Pandora syndrome, PAS
Synonyms & antonyms
Translations
French syndrome de dépression post-Avatar, PADS
- syndrome de dépression post-Avatarpost-Avatar depression syndrome
- PADSpost-Avatar depression syndrome
German Pandora-Depression, Post-Avatar-Depression-Syndrom
- Pandora-Depressionpost-Avatar depression syndrome
- Post-Avatar-Depression-Syndrompost-Avatar depression syndrome
- PADSpost-Avatar depression syndrome
- P.A.D.S.post-Avatar depression syndrome
- Post-Avatar-Depressionpost-Avatar depression syndrome
- PADpost-Avatar depression syndrome
- P.A.D.post-Avatar depression syndrome
- Post-Avatar-Syndrompost-Avatar depression syndrome
- PASpost-Avatar depression syndrome
- P.A.S.post-Avatar depression syndrome
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with pads
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
pads. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pads
“pads.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pads. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pads,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pads.
Source: pads on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.