Deject vs. Reject: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Harlon Moss || Published on January 18, 2024
Deject means to make someone feel sad or dispirited; reject means to dismiss or refuse something or someone.
Key Differences
Deject is a verb that describes the action of making someone feel sad or disheartened. Reject, conversely, is used to denote the act of dismissing or refusing something or someone.
The term deject often relates to emotional or psychological states, implying a sense of depression or low spirits. In contrast, reject is used in a broader context, ranging from social interactions to professional scenarios.
Dejection is a result of emotional influence or impact, causing feelings of despair. Rejection, however, can be based on a variety of factors, including quality, suitability, or personal preference.
The use of deject is more subjective, often linked to personal feelings. Reject is more objective, typically based on specific criteria or standards.
Deject primarily affects the individual's mood or emotional state. Reject affects the status or acceptance of an object, idea, or person.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
To make someone feel sad or dispirited
To dismiss or refuse something or someone
Context
Emotional, psychological
Social, professional, various contexts
Basis
Emotional impact, feelings of despair
Criteria, standards, personal preference
Subjectivity
More subjective, personal
More objective, based on specific factors
Effect
Affects mood or emotional state
Affects status or acceptance
ADVERTISEMENT
Deject and Reject Definitions
Deject
To bring down the mood of a person.
The news of the accident dejected the community.
Reject
To refuse to accept or consider.
The committee decided to reject the proposal.
Deject
To depress the spirits; demoralize.
The harsh criticism dejected the young artist.
Reject
To dismiss as inadequate or unsuitable.
The publisher rejected the manuscript for its length.
Deject
To make despondent or depressed.
After the rejection, she felt utterly dejected.
Reject
To turn down a person or offer.
She rejected his invitation to the dance.
Deject
To dishearten or lower in spirits.
His failure to win the competition dejected him.
Reject
To discard as flawed or unwanted.
The factory rejects defective products.
Deject
To cause someone to feel sad.
The gloomy weather dejected the entire crew.
Reject
To deny acceptance or approval.
The university rejected several applicants.
Deject
To lower the spirits of; dishearten.
Reject
To refuse to accept, submit to, believe, or make use of
He rejected their version of what happened. The store rejected the merchandise because it was damaged.
Deject
(transitive) Make sad or dispirited.
Reject
(transitive) To refuse to accept.
She even rejected my improved offer.
Deject
To cast downward.
Deject
To debase or humble.
Deject
One who is lowly or abject.
Deject
A waste product.
Deject
To cast down.
Christ dejected himself even unto the hells.
Sometimes she dejects her eyes in a seeming civility; and many mistake in her a cunning for a modest look.
Deject
To cast down the spirits of; to dispirit; to discourage; to dishearten.
Nor think, to die dejects my lofty mind.
Deject
Dejected.
Deject
Lower someone's spirits; make downhearted;
These news depressed her
The bad state of her child's health demoralizes her
FAQs
Are deject and reject interchangeable?
No, they are not interchangeable as they pertain to different actions and contexts.
What does reject mean?
Reject means to dismiss or refuse acceptance of something or someone.
Is reject always negative?
Reject generally has a negative connotation as it involves denial or refusal.
What does deject mean?
Deject means to make someone feel disheartened or sad.
Can a person be dejected?
Yes, a person can feel dejected, meaning feeling sad or low in spirits.
Is reject applicable to social scenarios?
Yes, reject can be used in social scenarios, like refusing invitations.
What are synonyms for reject?
Synonyms for reject include refuse, dismiss, and turn down.
What are synonyms for deject?
Synonyms for deject include dishearten, demoralize, and sadden.
Can a product be rejected?
Yes, products can be rejected if they don't meet certain standards.
Can an idea be dejected?
No, deject pertains to emotional states of people, not ideas.
How is reject used in a professional context?
In a professional context, reject can be used to turn down proposals or candidates.
What causes someone to feel dejected?
Disappointments or failures often cause feelings of dejection.
Is deject a common term in everyday language?
Deject is less common in everyday language compared to reject.
Can deject relate to physical wellbeing?
Deject typically refers to emotional or mental states, not physical wellbeing.
Does deject have a long-term effect?
Deject can have a varying duration of effect, from temporary to long-term.
Is reject a judgment on quality?
Often, reject is used to judge the quality or suitability of something.
Can reject have positive implications?
In some contexts, like rejecting harmful ideas, it can be positive.
How can someone cope with feeling dejected?
Support, positive activities, and sometimes professional help can aid in coping with dejection.
Can deject affect mental health?
Prolonged feelings of dejection can impact mental health.
Can a person be rejected?
Yes, a person can be rejected in various contexts, like job applications.
About Author
Written by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.