Words / C2

ABJ-ekt/ˈæbdʒekt/

Abject means as low, hopeless, or humiliating as a situation can get — not merely “very bad.” A careful writer chooses it for total misery or grovelling (abject poverty, abject failure, an abject apology) when ordinary words feel too mild. In speech it sounds literary; say utterly hopeless or complete unless you want that high, almost Victorian tone.

Meaning

Extreme and without hope or pride, often of a bad situation.

Examples

• “They lived in abject poverty.”
• “The campaign ended in abject failure.”
• “He issued an abject apology after the leak.”

Good to know

abject poverty / failure / apology. Everyday: utterly hopeless.

Near in meaning

wretched

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