dejected

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "dejected" is considered correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe someone who is feeling down or disheartened. For example, "After failing his driver's test, John was feeling dejected and disappointed in himself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As dejected Andy Murray fans filed away from SW19, leaving empty bottles of Pimm's and discarded Union flags in their wake, prices immediately plummeted on websites that had been offering men's final tickets at up to £8,500.

The Guardian - Sport

I left more dejected and hopeless than I began.

The Guardian

It was almost enough to bring a smile to the tired, dejected face of Alastair Cook.

The Guardian - Sport

But as the final set wore on the cheers became less frequent and at the end there was just dejected silence, punctuated by the odd half hearted shout.

The Guardian - Sport

Salmond was pictured looking dejected as he was driven from his north east home in the early hours for the flight down to Edinburgh (aides later said he was simply monitoring results on his iPad).

The Guardian

The decade I'm talking about begins, for me, at Wigan Casino in 1975 and ends on the steps of TUC headquarters 10 years later, with hundreds of miners shouting: "We're not going back!" at a dejected Arthur Scargill.

The Guardian - Opinion

With their dreams shattered, dejected members of the SNP and other parties in the yes camp instead listened to a crestfallen Alex Salmond concede defeat at 6.15am.

The Guardian

A brand new defensive pairing was tried for the final 15 minutes as Sam Cook joined Layla Guscoth.Francis was switched to WD as more combinations were tested.Dunn and Cookey took their fine domestic form to the international scene as England took control against an increasingly dejected looking side.

The Guardian - Sport

The FDP's leader, Philipp Rösler, lamented "the bitterest defeat for me personally" and resigned.The main opposition parties were also dejected.

The Economist

If anything, Mr Anwar's release will increase Mr Badawi's popularity yet more, as the same Malaysians who blamed Dr Mahathir for his persecution attribute his freedom to some behind-the-scenes signal from the new prime minister.The dejected opposition, meanwhile, hopes that Mr Anwar's release will give it a new lease on life.

The Economist

Others say that he has become so dejected by recent events that he wants to quit politics altogether.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dejected" to specifically describe someone who is feeling sad and dispirited due to a particular event or situation. This word is useful for conveying a sense of disappointment or loss of hope.

Common error

While "dejected" is appropriate in many contexts, avoid overusing it in highly formal or professional settings. Consider stronger or more nuanced alternatives like "disappointed" or "discouraged" if the situation requires a more subtle tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dejected" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe their state of being sad, dispirited, or discouraged. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Encyclopedias

24%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dejected" is a versatile adjective used to describe someone feeling sad and dispirited. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used in written English. Its frequency is very common, appearing most often in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science contexts. While appropriate for many situations, it should be used judiciously in formal contexts, and alternatives like "disappointed" or "discouraged" might be preferable in certain cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disheartened

Focuses more on the loss of spirit or enthusiasm.

despondent

Implies a deeper sense of hopelessness and despair.

downcast

Suggests a lowering of one's gaze or posture due to sadness.

crestfallen

Emphasizes disappointment after a setback.

dispirited

Highlights the loss of energy and motivation.

glum

Describes a sullen or gloomy mood.

morose

Indicates a sullen and ill-tempered mood.

down in the dumps

An informal way to describe feeling sad or unhappy.

heavy-hearted

Suggests a burden of sadness or sorrow.

in low spirits

A general term for feeling sad or discouraged.

FAQs

How to use "dejected" in a sentence?

You can use "dejected" to describe someone feeling sad and dispirited, for example: "After the loss, the team looked "dejected"."

What can I say instead of "dejected"?

You can use alternatives like "disheartened", "despondent", or "downcast" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "dejected" or "rejected"?

"Dejected" describes feeling sad, while "rejected" means turned down or refused. For example, you feel "dejected" after being "rejected" from a job.

What's the difference between "dejected" and "depressed"?

"Dejected" describes a temporary feeling of sadness, often due to a specific event. "Depressed" indicates a more prolonged and severe mental health condition. If someone is "dejected" for a long time, they might become depressed.