abject

[ab-jekt, ab-jekt]

adjective

1. utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating, or wretched.

   abject poverty.

   Synonyms: miserable, degrading

2. contemptible; despicable; base-spirited.

   an abject coward.

   Synonyms: vile, low, mean, base

3. shamelessly servile; slavish.

4. Obsolete.,  cast aside.

abject

/ ˈæbdʒɛkt /

adjective

1. utterly wretched or hopeless

2. miserable; forlorn; dejected

3. indicating humiliation; submissive

   an abject apology

4. contemptible; despicable; servile

   an abject liar

Other Word Forms

• abjectly adverb
• abjectness noun
• abjectedness noun
• unabject adjective
• unabjectly adverb
• unabjectness noun
• abjection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abject¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin abjectus thrown down (past participle of abicere, abjicere ), equivalent to ab- ab- + -jec- throw + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of abject¹

C14: (in the sense: rejected, cast out): from Latin abjectus thrown or cast away, from abjicere, from ab- away + jacere to throw

Example Sentences

It was, he writes, “a childhood and adolescence not so much of abject poverty as of poverty of outlook, of ambition,” and the girl got out as soon as she could.

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"My first thought when they approached me about taking part was abject terror," said the 39-year-old.

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The nation of Braveheart alternated exclusively between valiant defeat and abject humiliation.

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Hutton appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court for sentencing on Thursday, where District Judge Francis Rafferty described her act as one of "abject wickedness".

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"That was probably the last time she walked and called me mum," Natasha said of the surgery which she described as an "abject failure".

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Related Words

• wretched