Dejected vs Downhearted
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dejected
Beyond 10,000 (less common)B1adjective
Downhearted
| Dejected | Downhearted | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈdʒɛktɪd//🇺🇸 //dɪˈdʒɛktɪd// | |
| Meaning | Feeling sad and without hope. | |
| Example | After losing the game, he felt completely dejected. | - |
| Register | Neutral | - |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | - |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | dejected mood, dejected expression, look dejected | - |
| Antonyms | elated, cheerful, happy | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'rejected' which means not accepted., Using it in contexts unrelated to emotions., Spelling it incorrectly as 'dejectted'. | - |
| Usage notes | Use 'dejected' in emotional contexts, often to describe someone who is disappointed. Avoid in overly casual situations. | - |
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Frequently asked questions: Dejected vs Downhearted
What's the difference between Dejected and Downhearted?
Dejected: Feeling sad and without hope. Downhearted:
Can I use Dejected and Downhearted interchangeably?
Not always. Dejected and Downhearted are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.