crestfallen

adjective

crest·​fall·​en ˈkrest-ˌfȯ-lən How to pronounce crestfallen (audio)
1
: having a drooping crest or hanging head
2
: feeling shame or humiliation : dejected
After losing the playoff game, the team was crestfallen.
crestfallenly adverb
crestfallenness noun

Examples of crestfallen in a Sentence

she was crestfallen when she found out she hadn't got the job
Recent Examples on the Web The promised live music turned out to be a single violinist, and instead of ballroom dancing, there was a pole dancer performing for the crestfallen crowd. Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024 The shooting and its aftermath took a toll on a crestfallen family and a city mired in underdevelopment. Curtis Bunn, NBC News, 9 Aug. 2024 Simien is a part of a vast network of crestfallen creators, but the camaraderie hasn't soothed the sting. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2024 In Episode 2 and 3, Baldwin is crestfallen and depressed, supplying Oppenheim’s story its Shakespearean tragedy. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 21 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for crestfallen 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crestfallen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see crest entry 1

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crestfallen was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near crestfallen

Cite this Entry

“Crestfallen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crestfallen. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

crestfallen

adjective
crest·​fall·​en ˈkrest-ˌfȯ-lən How to pronounce crestfallen (audio)
: very sad and disappointed

More from Merriam-Webster on crestfallen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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