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Synonyms

abject

American  
[ab-jekt, ab-jekt] / ˈæb dʒɛkt, æbˈdʒɛkt /

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 British  
/ 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
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

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

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.

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Vocabulary lists containing abject

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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.

However, he put in an abject 49-minute second-round performance against world number 90 Berrettini.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

INDIANAPOLIS—When Dusty May took over as Michigan’s basketball coach in 2024, he was stepping into an abject disaster.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

"He lived in abject poverty. His home had been destroyed," his son, Wilson Maina Kiambati, told AFP.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

Kelly’s stint as offensive coordinator was an abject failure: Among 32 NFL teams, Las Vegas is tied for last at 15.0 points per game and is 30th with 268.9 in total yards per game.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

His misery is so much more abject than mine.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

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.