Deject

Part of Speech

Verb

Pronunciation

English: /dɪˈdʒɛkt/

Definitions

• To lower the spirits or confidence of someone; to make them feel sad or disheartened.
• To depress or discourage.

Usage Examples

• "The bad news seemed to deject him instantly."
• "Losing the championship did not deject the team; instead, they trained harder."
• "His failure to secure the promotion left him feeling completely dejected."

Etymology

From Latin dejectus, past participle of dejicere ("to throw down"), from de- ("down") + jacere ("to throw").

Synonyms

• Dishearten
• Discourage
• Depress
• Demoralize

Antonyms

• Encourage
• Inspire
• Uplift
• Cheer up

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• American English: /dɪˈdʒɛkt/
• British English: /dɪˈdʒɛkt/

Historical Usage

First recorded in the 15th century, "deject" was commonly used in literature to describe a person’s fallen emotional state.

Cultural Nuances

In literature and poetry, "deject" is often associated with sorrowful emotions and despair.

More Information

Psychologists suggest that dejection is often a temporary emotional state influenced by external events, but prolonged dejection may lead to deeper psychological effects.