SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
abject
adjective
Showing extreme submission, loss of self-respect, or hopelessness.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Extremely submissive
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topGroveling and self-abasing suggest a particularly severe loss of dignity.
Without hope
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topAbject suggests an extreme, pitiable condition. Resigned means accepting an unwelcome result and need not imply hopelessness.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See abject in use
The novel portrays an abject surrender in which the adviser abandons every objection.
An abject plea in a fictional hotel scene has a junior steward call himself worthless and beg permission to keep even the smallest responsibility.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license