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

Explanation

If it reeks of humiliation or looks like the lowest of lows, then you can safely describe it as abject. The pronunciation of abject is up for debate: you can decide whether to stress the first or the second syllable. But what's more important is understanding how extreme this adjective is. Abject means absolutely miserable, the most unfortunate, with utter humiliation. You might have heard the phrase abject poverty, which is the absolute worst, most hopeless level of poverty you've ever seen.

Example Sentences

However, he put in an abject 49-minute second-round performance against world number 90 Berrettini.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Another abject defeat could end Liverpool's hopes of progressing even before the second leg, at which point the season would become solely about trying to scrape back into the Champions League next season.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Just two years ago, they were among the worst teams ever to set foot on the hardwood, an abject disaster that once lost 28 games in a row.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

"He lived in abject poverty. His home had been destroyed," his son, Wilson Maina Kiambati, told AFP.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

What belief did I ever hold in my father, whose daily life I so often ridiculed and looked upon with such abject shame?

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Related Words

• wretched