abject

adjective

ab·​ject ˈab-ˌjekt How to pronounce abject (audio)
1
: sunk to or existing in a low state or condition : very bad or severe
living in abject poverty
to lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fallenJohn Milton
abject failure
2
a
: cast down in spirit : servile, spiritless
a man made abject by suffering
an abject coward
b
: showing hopelessness or resignation
abject surrender
3
: expressing or offered in a humble and often ingratiating spirit
abject flattery
an abject apology
abjectly
ˈab-ˌjek(t)-lē How to pronounce abject (audio)
ab-ˈjek(t)-
adverb
abjectness
ˈab-ˌjek(t)-nəs How to pronounce abject (audio)
ab-ˈjek(t)-
noun

Did you know?

Abject comes from the Latin abjectus (meaning "downcast," "humble," or "sordid"), the past participle of the Latin verb abicere, meaning "to cast off." Its original meaning in English was "cast off" or "rejected," but it is now used to refer more broadly to things in a low state or condition. Abject shares with mean, ignoble, and sordid the sense of being below the normal standards of human decency and dignity.

Choose the Right Synonym for abject

mean, ignoble, abject, sordid mean being below the normal standards of human decency and dignity.

mean suggests small-mindedness, ill temper, or cupidity.

mean and petty satire

ignoble suggests a loss or lack of some essential high quality of mind or spirit.

an ignoble scramble after material possessions

abject may imply degradation, debasement, or servility.

abject poverty

sordid is stronger than all of these in stressing physical or spiritual degradation and abjectness.

a sordid story of murder and revenge

Examples of abject in a Sentence

… the time would come that no human being should be humiliated or be made abject. Katherine Anne Porter, The Never-Ending Wrong, 1977
… my critical intelligence sometimes shrivels to an abject nodding of the head. Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, May 1971
… nothing seemed to have changed at the Beehive across the years. The same pallid employees were visible in the same abject state of peonage, cringing under the whiplash of overseers. S. J. Perelman, Baby, It's Cold Inside, 1970
They live in abject misery. He offered an abject apology. She thought he was an abject coward.
Recent Examples on the Web The theory was wrong, and the war was an abject failure. Bernie Sanders, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024 The main risk in tearing up the old rulebook is that in the current Israeli-Palestinian political climate, any full-bore U.S. diplomatic push could end in abject failure. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abject 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abject.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "outcast, rejected, lowly," borrowed from Latin abjectus "downcast, humble, sordid," from past participle of abicere "to throw away, throw down, overcome, abandon," from ab- ab- + -icere, reduced form of jacere "to throw" — more at jet entry 3

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of abject was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near abject

Cite this Entry

“Abject.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abject. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

abject

adjective
ab·​ject ˈab-ˌjekt How to pronounce abject (audio)
: very low in spirit or hope : wretched
abject misery
an abject coward
abjectly adverb
abjectness
-ˌjek(t)-nəs How to pronounce abject (audio)
-ˈjek(t)-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on abject

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