1
: sunk to or existing in a low state or condition : very bad or severe
living in abject poverty
to lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fallen—
John Milton
John Miltonabject failure
2
a
: cast down in spirit : servile, spiritless
a man made abject by suffering
an abject coward
b
: showing hopelessness or resignation
abject surrender
3
: expressing or offered in a humble and often ingratiating spirit
abject flattery
an abject apology
Did you know?
Abject comes from the Latin abjectus (meaning "downcast," "humble," or "sordid"), the past participle of the Latin verb abicere, meaning "to cast off." Its original meaning in English was "cast off" or "rejected," but it is now used to refer more broadly to things in a low state or condition. Abject shares with mean, ignoble, and sordid the sense of being below the normal standards of human decency and dignity.
Examples of abject in a Sentence
… the time would come that no human being should be humiliated or be made abject.
—Katherine Anne Porter, The Never-Ending Wrong, 1977
… my critical intelligence sometimes shrivels to an abject nodding of the head.
—Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, May 1971
… nothing seemed to have changed at the Beehive across the years. The same pallid employees were visible in the same abject state of peonage, cringing under the whiplash of overseers.
—S. J. Perelman, Baby, It's Cold Inside, 1970
They live in abject misery.
He offered an abject apology.
She thought he was an abject coward.
Katherine Anne Porter, The Never-Ending Wrong, 1977
… my critical intelligence sometimes shrivels to an abject nodding of the head.
—Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, May 1971
… nothing seemed to have changed at the Beehive across the years. The same pallid employees were visible in the same abject state of peonage, cringing under the whiplash of overseers.
—S. J. Perelman, Baby, It's Cold Inside, 1970
They live in abject misery.
He offered an abject apology.
She thought he was an abject coward.
Recent Examples on the Web
Perhaps that’s why the character feels so one-dimensional compared to the franchise’s previous antagonists — that and the script’s abject failure to involve Gina in the story’s emotional stakes.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
Here is a region with the world’s highest population and the vulgar coexistence of unspeakable wealth as well as abject poverty.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
Kathy Bates on battling the 'abject terror' of leading the new Matlock
What other challenges does Matty present?
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 23 Sep. 2024
So recently, now the event horizon of abject failure is upon the London Stock Exchange where the CEO of the exchange itself is not even on the board of the London Stock Exchange Group, the word is out that the London market needs rejuvenating.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abject 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
Here is a region with the world’s highest population and the vulgar coexistence of unspeakable wealth as well as abject poverty.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
Kathy Bates on battling the 'abject terror' of leading the new Matlock
What other challenges does Matty present?
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 23 Sep. 2024
So recently, now the event horizon of abject failure is upon the London Stock Exchange where the CEO of the exchange itself is not even on the board of the London Stock Exchange Group, the word is out that the London market needs rejuvenating.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abject
Dictionary Entries Near abject
Cite this Entry
“Abject.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abject. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share