"Disheartened" vs "dejected": exploring the shades of sadness

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 09/11/2024, 04:38

English.me team member

Disheartened and dejected. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words describe a feeling of sadness, disappointment, or lack of hope. They are often used to convey an emotional state where someone feels let down or discouraged.

What is different?

Disheartened often suggests a loss of spirit or morale, typically due to a specific event or outcome. Dejected implies a deeper, more sustained state of sadness or disappointment that can result from a variety of causes.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Disheartened

She felt disheartened after her project proposal was rejected.
The team was disheartened by their consecutive losses.
He was disheartened when he didn't get the job he had hoped for.

Dejected

He walked home in a dejected manner after the defeat.
She looked dejected after hearing the bad news.
He felt dejected when he realized his efforts went unnoticed.