# abject

/ˈæbdʒɛkt/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abject
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

feeling or showing a very low level of self-respect. It describes someone who is so ashamed or defeated that they cannot stand to look at themselves.

For teachers: characterised by a state of extreme humiliation, degradation, or lack of self-respect. Often describes a person's emotional state or a situation of total defeat.

## Examples

- He felt abject after losing the election.
- The defeated army returned to the city in abject silence, their heads bowed in shame.
- The protagonist's journey is one of abject poverty to eventual self-reliance, a narrative arc that explores the psychological toll of systemic neglect.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.