1
Core action
Make someone feel dispirited, downhearted, or low in spirits.
Example
The rejection dejected him briefly.
deject
/dɪˈdʒekt/ · dih-JEKTverb
Make someone feel dispirited, downhearted, or low in spirits.
Use deject to express this relationship precisely: make someone feel dispirited, downhearted, or low in spirits.
What deject Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
Repeated setbacks dejected the once-confident team.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
She was disappointed but refused to let the result deject her.
Use deject Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The rejection dejected him briefly.
Repeated setbacks dejected the once-confident team.
She was disappointed but refused to let the result deject her.
Precision Matters
Deject overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
deject
vs.Means make someone feel dispirited, downhearted, or low in spirits.
assuage
Means make an unpleasant feeling, fear, pain, or concern less intense; soothe or relieve it.
deject
vs.Means make someone feel dispirited, downhearted, or low in spirits.
ebullient
Means overflowing with cheerful energy, enthusiasm, and excitement.
deject
vs.Means make someone feel dispirited, downhearted, or low in spirits.
commend
Means praise or express approval of someone or something, especially for a worthy action or quality.
deject
vs.Means make someone feel dispirited, downhearted, or low in spirits.
morose
Means sullen, gloomy, withdrawn, and ill-tempered.
Test deject in Context
The failure lowers the candidate's spirits.
1
The third unsuccessful application began to ___ the candidate, who had previously remained optimistic.