abject
5 synonyms and 5 antonyms for abject, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Experienced or done in the most extreme or miserable degree, especially poverty or failure.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Experienced or done in the most extreme or miserable degree, especially poverty or failure.
“The refugees were living in abject poverty.”
How to use abject
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
abject poverty
abject failure
abject apology
Etymology
From Latin abiectus, "thrown away, cast aside," from ab- ("away") + iacere ("to throw") — the same root as "reject" and "project."
Full origin of abject →Frequently asked questions
What does “abject” mean?
The word “abject” means experienced or done in the most extreme or miserable degree, especially poverty or failure. In plain terms, used to intensify something bad — total, wretched, or humiliating, especially poverty, failure, or misery.
How do you pronounce “abject”?
“Abject” is pronounced ABD-zhehkt (/ˈæbˌd͡ʒɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “abject” in a sentence?
Here is “abject” used in a sentence: “The refugees were living in abject poverty.”
What part of speech is “abject”?
“Abject” is an adjective.
Where does the word “abject” come from?
The word “abject” comes from Latin. From Latin abiectus, "thrown away, cast aside," from ab- ("away") + iacere ("to throw") — the same root as "reject" and "project.".
How many meanings does “abject” have?
“Abject” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: experienced or done in the most extreme or miserable degree, especially poverty or failure.
Related words
abjection
abjective
