English vocabulary · C1
Abject
/ˈæb.dʒɛkt/ · adj.
It means extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading.
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Example sentences
- His life was in abject poverty.
- She lived in abject misery.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- ab — away (from Latin)
- ject — throw (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- hopeless (all hope is completely lost)
- wretched (suffering is both physical and emotional)
- miserable (someone is visibly pitiable)
Words with the same root
ject — throw
- project — to throw forward a plan or idea
- reject — to throw back or refuse
- inject — to force liquid into something
Lesson notes
Abject. It means extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading. You feel truly hopeless and low.
Similar words are hopeless, wretched, and miserable. Use abject when life feels empty.
His life was in abject poverty. She lived in abject misery.
Ab means away, ject means throw. You are thrown away, far from hope. That is abject.