Lowering someone's spirits is an expression used to describe the act of making someone feel sad or disheartened. It is often done through words or actions that are intended to make the person feel down or discouraged. The term 'lower someone's spirits' can be used to describe a variety of situations, from a friend trying to cheer up a depressed friend to a boss reprimanding an employee. The crossword solution for this term is 'DEPRESS, ' which accurately describes the act of lowering someone's spirits.