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Based partly on the Latin iacere, "to throw", dejection means literally "cast down"—that is, "downcast". Like melancholy, gloom, and even sadness, dejection seems to have been declining in use for many years; instead, we now seem to prefer depression (whose roots mean basically "a pressing down"). Since depression is also the word used by doctors, lots of people now assume that anyone depressed should be taking an antidepressant; if we went back to dejected and dejection, we might not be so quick to make that assumption.
Examples of dejection in a Sentence
Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Karbler notes that dejection and disappointment are common reactions in these kinds of scenarios.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
So, too, was the ecstasy at which City celebrated their equally exhilarating 3-2 victory over Arsenal, their joy at odds with the dejection of the Arsenal players who had twice clawed their way back to parity but failed to hold on.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
No concrete reason has been given except the theory that lack of results, both individually and collectively, have led to some dejection and that teams sometimes simply go through funks.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dejection
Cite this Entry
“Dejection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dejection. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dejection
noun
Medical Definition
dejection
noun
