What does dejectedly mean?
"Dejectedly" is an adverb meaning in a sad, discouraged, or dispirited manner. It describes how someone performs an action when their spirits are low, typically following a setback, rejection, or disappointment. A character might sigh dejectedly, walk away dejectedly, or shake their head dejectedly — the word signals not just unhappiness but a visible drooping of energy and hope. English derives it from the Latin verb deicere, "to throw down," via the adjective "dejected"; the underlying image is of one's mood being cast downward. The word belongs chiefly to literary and journalistic prose rather than casual speech, where simpler phrases like "sadly" or "in low spirits" are more common. Its strength lies in its precision: it captures a specific blend of sorrow, deflation, and defeated resignation that plainer synonyms miss. Writers reach for it when they want readers to see discouragement embodied in a gesture or movement rather than merely stated as a feeling.
adverbIn a manner showing low spirits, sadness, or loss of hope; with a dejected manner or bearing.
- In a way that shows sadness, disappointment, or loss of hope: 'He shuffled dejectedly out of the room.'
"After failing the exam, she walked home dejectedly, her shoulders slumped and eyes fixed on the pavement."
"Rejected once again, he slumped dejectedly onto the bench and stared at his shoes."
"The team left the field dejectedly after conceding a goal in the final minute."
"Dejectedly" comes from the Latin deicere — literally "to throw down" — so to act dejectedly is to have your spirits thrown to the ground.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dejectedly
"Dejectedly" is formed from the adjective "dejected" plus the adverbial suffix "-ly." The adjective traces back to the Latin deicere (also spelled dejicere), composed of de- ("down") and iacere ("to throw"), meaning "to throw down." The word entered English in the late 16th or early 17th century, when "dejected" could mean both physically cast down and figuratively dispirited. Cognates sharing the same Latin root include "dejection," "deject," and "eject," all built on iacere.
Related word forms
How dejectedly is actually used
The word is neutral-to-formal in register and appears mostly in narrative writing rather than everyday conversation. It carries an emotional connotation of visible discouragement — often expressed through posture, gait, or tone — rather than merely internal sadness.
Easily confused with dejectedly
"Dejectedly" means sadly and in low spirits, while "defeatedly" specifically implies having been beaten or having given up after a struggle.
"Dejected" is the adjective describing a person's sad state, while "dejectedly" is the adverb describing how an action is performed.