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 abject poverty and debt faced by many of India’s farmers has forced some to take extreme measures. Rhea Mogul, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 Without increasing mental health providers, any attempt to widen mental health services will be an abject failure. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 The reason the presidency is imperiled as your opening monologue stated, is because this is an abject failure of leadership. Nbc Universal, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2024 Angelo Posada, the unbeaten and top-ranked 175-pound wrestler in California, outlined the philosophy embedded in abject exhaustion and mental torment. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2024 People had looks of total resignation and abject despair. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2024 None ever demanded abject loyalty from all other officeholders. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2024 Two-thirds of the city’s population lived in abject poverty in slums built in medieval times. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 26 Dec. 2023 Top Stories A great deal of the cases brought by Trump and his allies (including more than 100 members of Congress) were tossed out because they were based on abject nonsense. Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023

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 19 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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