abject

IPA/ˈæbdʒekt/
KK[ˈæbdʒɛkt]IPA/ˈæbdʒekt/

abject — adjective

  • abjectpositive
  • more abjectcomparative
  • most abjectsuperlative

1. extremely bad, painful, or hopeless, with almost no dignity or hope left

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

extremely bad, painful, or hopeless, with almost no dignity or hope left

Example

When the mine shut, whole streets fell into abject poverty within months.

collocation: fall into abject poverty

Tomas felt abject terror when the boat lights vanished in the fog.

collocation: abject terror

Common collocations
  • abject poverty
  • abject misery
  • abject failure
  • abject terror
  • abject conditions
Synonyms
  • miserable

    more common and often centered on unhappiness rather than total degradation

  • wretched

    strong and often colored by pity or disgust

  • hopeless

    focuses on no chance of improvement, not always on shame or misery

Antonyms
  • hopeful

    showing some chance or expectation of improvement

  • secure

    free from the severe hardship or danger that abject suggests

Grammar Patterns

abject + poverty/misery/failure/terror

live in abject poverty

end in abject failure

Usage Note

Often used before nouns such as poverty, misery, failure, or terror to stress an extreme state that feels stripped of hope or dignity. Distinguish from adjective/2, which focuses on a person's humiliating submission rather than the bad condition itself.

Common Mistakes

I felt abject because my bus was late.
I felt upset because my bus was late.
abject is much stronger and usually describes extreme misery, fear, or failure.
The kitchen looked abject after dinner.
The kitchen looked messy after dinner.
abject is for severe conditions or emotions, not ordinary untidiness.

2. showing that someone has given up pride and is submitting in a humiliating way

2.adjectiveC2
Definition

showing that someone has given up pride and is submitting in a humiliating way

Example

At the hearing, the thief offered an abject apology to the shop owner.

collocation: abject apology

Hari became abject and begged the landlord not to lock the door.

pattern: become abject

Common collocations
  • abject apology
  • abject obedience
  • abject manner
  • abject surrender
Synonyms
  • servile

    stresses eagerness to obey in a way that feels undignified

  • submissive

    broader and less strongly humiliating than abject

  • cringing

    emphasizes fearful, self-lowering behavior in front of power

Antonyms
  • proud

    keeping self-respect instead of lowering yourself

  • defiant

    refusing to submit even under pressure

Grammar Patterns

become/look abject

abject + apology/obedience/manner

Usage Note

Usually used for a person's manner, apology, or obedience when they seem crushed and without self-respect. Distinguish from adjective/1, which intensifies misery or failure without centering on submission to someone else.

Common Mistakes

The new intern sounded abject because she spoke softly.
The new intern sounded shy because she spoke softly.
abject suggests humiliating self-submission, not simple quietness.
He gave an abject answer in class.
He gave a hesitant answer in class.
abject usually describes a manner, apology, or obedience, not just any weak reply.

Word family

  • abjectly
    adverbC2
  • abjection
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Miserable is the common everyday word and often focuses on a person's feelings or on a situation that makes life unpleasant. Wretched is stronger and often adds pity or disgust, especially for living conditions or someone's outward state. Deplorable is mainly a judging word for conditions or behavior that are shockingly bad, often in formal criticism. Abject is especially useful when something has fallen to an extreme low point and seems stripped of hope, dignity, or success. That is why English often uses it with nouns like poverty, misery, terror, or failure rather than for minor discomfort or ordinary disappointment.

miserable ↗wretched ↗deplorable ↗

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Abject comes from the Latin past participle abjectus, from a verb meaning 'to throw down' or 'cast away'. In English, that image developed into the idea of being brought very low, which explains both the sense of extreme misery and the sense of humiliating self-submission.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1