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

India say they can peak at the right time and play their "perfect game" in the Super Eights at the T20 World Cup, while playing down the abject form of opening batsman Abhishek Sharma.

From Barron's

Somehow he had to mask his abject terror with a look of calm courage.

From Literature

Yes, abject, but Scotland's error count across the board was higher than Italy's.

From BBC

Mr. Leon’s staging and Ms. DiDonato’s performance built a compelling arc: The real Christmas miracle is not Amahl’s sudden cure, but the transformation of the Mother’s abject despair into hope.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

Related Words

• wretched