crestfallen

adjective

crest·​fall·​en ˈkrest-ˌfȯ-lən 

1

: having a drooping crest or hanging head

2

: feeling shame or humiliation : dejected

After losing the playoff game, the team was crestfallen.

crestfallenly adverb

crestfallenness

ˈkrest-ˌfȯ-lən-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• bad
• blue
• brokenhearted
• cast down
• dejected
• depressed
• despondent
• disconsolate
• doleful
• down
• down in the mouth
• downcast
• downhearted
• droopy
• forlorn
• gloomy
• glum
• hangdog
• heartbroken
• heartsick
• heartsore
• heavyhearted
• inconsolable
• joyless
• low
• low-spirited
• melancholic
• melancholy
• miserable
• mournful
• sad
• saddened
• sorrowful
• sorry
• unhappy
• woebegone
• woeful
• wretched

Examples of crestfallen in a Sentence

she was crestfallen when she found out she hadn't got the job

Recent Examples on the Web

During these remarks, a television camera briefly focused on Pelosi, who slowly moved her head from side-to-side while appearing crestfallen and holding a walking stick. —Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025

Russian conservatives were crestfallen, and Dugin’s book provided fresh inspiration. —James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025

Ani, still believing there's a chance for her and Vanya, is crestfallen when she's rejected by the oligarch and his wife. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025

Cut to: Lithgow wearing a perfectly crestfallen expression. —Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see crest entry 1

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for crestfallen

• befallen
• tarpaulin
• cauline
• fallen
• paulin
• pollen

Kids Definition

crestfallen

adjective

crest·​fall·​en ˈkrest-ˌfȯ-lən 

: very sad and disappointed