dejection

noun

de·​jec·​tion di-ˈjek-shən 

dē-

: lowness of spirits

Did you know?

Based partly on the Latin iacere, "to throw", dejection means literally "cast down"—that is, "downcast". Like melancholy, gloom, and even sadness, dejection seems to have been declining in use for many years; instead, we now seem to prefer depression (whose roots mean basically "a pressing down"). Since depression is also the word used by doctors, lots of people now assume that anyone depressed should be taking an antidepressant; if we went back to dejected and dejection, we might not be so quick to make that assumption.

Synonyms

• blue devils
• blues
• depression
• desolation
• despond
• despondence
• despondency
• disconsolateness
• dispiritedness
• doldrums
• dolefulness
• downheartedness
• dreariness
• dumps
• forlornness
• gloom
• gloominess
• glumness
• heartsickness
• joylessness
• melancholy
• miserableness
• mopes
• mournfulness
• oppression
• sadness
• sorrowfulness
• unhappiness

Examples of dejection in a Sentence

I find that ice cream often works wonders when trying to overcome dejection.

Recent Examples on the Web

After generations of thankless activism that brought more ridicule than results, and more dejection than hope, suddenly gays and lesbians have found themselves on the winning side of a string of court verdicts and legislative and ballot-box battles. —Wayne Pacelle, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2015

All that positivity evaporated in the opening seconds on Saturday, with that hope being replaced by anger, recrimination and dejection. —Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025

Just like that, an entire team’s optimism and energy turned into dejection and disbelief. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 19 Nov. 2024

The day after a high-stakes presidential election usually brings elation on one side and dejection for the other. —Daniel Wine, CNN, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dejection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction

Kids Definition

dejection

noun

de·​jec·​tion di-ˈjek-shən 

: lowness of spirits

Medical Definition

dejection

noun

de·​jec·​tion -ˈjek-shən 

1

: lowness of spirits : depression, melancholy

2

a

: the act or process of defecating

b

: feces, excrement