abject
Americanadjective
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utterly wretched or hopeless
-
miserable; forlorn; dejected
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indicating humiliation; submissive
an abject apology
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contemptible; despicable; servile
an abject liar
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of abject
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin abjectus thrown down (past participle of abicere, abjicere ), equivalent to ab- ab- + -jec- throw + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
If it reeks of humiliation or looks like the lowest of lows, then you can safely describe it as abject. The pronunciation of abject is up for debate: you can decide whether to stress the first or the second syllable. But what's more important is understanding how extreme this adjective is. Abject means absolutely miserable, the most unfortunate, with utter humiliation. You might have heard the phrase abject poverty, which is the absolute worst, most hopeless level of poverty you've ever seen.
Vocabulary lists containing abject
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Grade 12, List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Abject failure is the typical result when I attempt to book a stay at the Crystal Cove Beach Cottages.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2022
To put it as a mathematical equation: Championships > Abject Failure.
From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2019
KREIZMAN: Abject self-doubt; attempting to watch and read everything all at once in big deep gulps and wishing I could pour books directly into my brain; working on my night cheese.
From Salon • Oct. 9, 2015
Abject terror … Graham Vick leads rehearsals of Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht.
From The Guardian • Aug. 8, 2012
“Well... sure good to be together again. Arguing. Almost dying. Abject terror. Oh, look. It’s our floor.”
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
