abject
Abject (adj) means experienced or done in the most extreme or miserable degree, especially poverty or failure. Example: “The refugees were living in abject poverty.”
How to Use Abject
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to intensify something bad — total, wretched, or humiliating, especially poverty, failure, or misery.
Word Forms
abjecter comparative, more abject comparative, abjected past tense, abjects plural, abjects singular, abjectest superlative, most abject superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The refugees were living in _____ poverty.
Etymology
From Latin abiectus, "thrown away, cast aside," from ab- ("away") + iacere ("to throw") — the same root as "reject" and "project."
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.
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