abject

[ ab-jekt, ab-jekt ]

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.

abject

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈabjectly, adverb
• abˈjection, noun
• ˈabjectness, noun

Other Words From

• ab·jectly adverb
• ab·jectness ab·jected·ness noun
• un·abject adjective
• un·abject·ly adverb
• un·abject·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abject¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin abjectus thrown down (past participle of abicere, abjicere ), equivalent to ab- ab- + -jec- throw + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of abject¹

C14: (in the sense: rejected, cast out): from Latin abjectus thrown or cast away, from abjicere, from ab- away + jacere to throw

Example Sentences

He worked his way up from "abject poverty" on an estate in south-east London to become chief executive of Forterro, a Swedish software firm.

From BBC

My response was abject horror at the thought of changing Yohji’s aesthetic choices, and to her credit she relented.

From Los Angeles Times

With its themes of isolation and family manipulation, it starts to feel like “Dogtooth” meets “The Village,” only with more abject suffering.

From Los Angeles Times

"Today, we are going to set out our claim and how our claim shows an abject failure of corporate responsibility and a failure to provide a safe system of work."

From BBC

"Workers, families, and communities will potentially be thrown into turmoil once again, in just days or weeks, because of abject failure in national industrial strategy and corporate mismanagement," the GMB said.

From BBC

Related Words

• wretched