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.

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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

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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

Example Sentences

Born James Chambers in 1944, Cliff grew up as the eighth of nine children in abject poverty in the parish of St. James, Jamaica.

From BBC

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.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From BBC

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

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From BBC

Related Words

• wretched