Vocabulary Spotlight
Abject
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Extremely bad, unpleasant, or degrading; showing a hopeless or humiliating condition.
“They were living in abject poverty with little hope for improvement.”
Pronunciation
[ˈæb.dʒɛkt]
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
Synonyms
Hopeless
Miserable
Degraded
Pitiful
Antonyms
Noble
Dignified
Respectable
Uplifted
Related Words
Degradation (noun)
Word Origin
“Abject” comes from the Latin word “abjectus,” meaning “cast off” or “thrown away.” The prefix “ab-” means “away” and “jacere” means “to throw.” It entered Middle English in the 15th century to describe extreme conditions of humility or wretchedness.
Word Family
Noun: Abjectness – The state of being abject or miserable.
Adjective: Abject – Existing in a degraded or wretched state.
Mnemonics
Think of “Abject” as “A-Bject” – like “A Big Reject,” which helps remember a state of extreme rejection or hopelessness.
Alternatively, imagine “abject” as “abandoned and rejected,” to signify something cast aside and miserable.
Industry-specific Usage
Sociology
In sociology, “abject poverty” refers to conditions where people lack basic needs and live in extreme hardship.
Literature
In literature, characters may face “abject conditions” to depict their struggles and humanize their suffering.
Psychology
In psychology, “abject” might describe feelings of deep worthlessness or helplessness associated with certain mental health conditions.
In Context
“Abject” often describes extreme conditions of poverty, hopelessness, or degradation. It highlights a state of utter helplessness or wretchedness, used in both everyday and formal language to emphasize the severity of a condition or situation.