Dejection is a heavy, lingering sadness that weighs on someone like a dark cloud. When you're in a state of dejection, you feel low in spirits, discouraged, and drained of hope or energy. This feeling lasts longer and cuts deeper than a brief moment of disappointment.

Imagine a basketball team that practiced all season, worked incredibly hard, and then lost the championship game in the final seconds. That sinking feeling in their chests, the way their shoulders slump as they walk off the court, the quietness in the locker room afterward: that's dejection. It's the opposite of jubilation or excitement.

You might notice dejection in someone's face and posture. Their head might hang low, their voice might sound flat, and they might seem withdrawn or uninterested in things that usually make them happy. A student might feel dejection after failing a test they studied hard for, or after being left out of a group activity they really wanted to join.

While everyone experiences dejection sometimes, it usually lifts as time passes or circumstances improve.