dejected

Definitions

de- (down) + ject (throw) + -ed (past participle/adjective) = 'thrown down.' Someone dejected has had their spirits cast downward — their mood has been thrown to the ground.

Why It Means This

Dejected is more vivid than 'sad' because of its physical image — your spirits have been thrown downward, as if slammed to the floor. The word implies a response to an event: you become dejected after receiving bad news, after a defeat, after being turned down. It's a heavier word than 'disappointed' but less clinical than 'depressed.' The rare verb 'deject' exists but is almost never used — dejected lives independently as an adjective.

Common Collocations

• 1.look dejected看起来沮丧
• 2.feel dejected感到沮丧
• 3.dejected expression沮丧的表情
• 4.dejected figure沮丧的身影

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She looked dejected after hearing the exam results.

• 2.

  The dejected team walked off the field after their defeat.

• 3.

  He sat alone in the corner, dejected and silent.

Easily Confused

dejected vs depressed — Dejected is temporary sadness triggered by a specific event (dejected after a loss). Depressed can be a clinical condition that persists regardless of events. You cheer up someone who's dejected; you seek treatment for someone who's depressed.

Synonym Comparison