Word of the Day: Some emotions don’t need explaining—they show up instantly in our posture, our silence, even the way our shoulders slump. Crestfallen is one of those words that captures a feeling we’ve all experienced: the quiet drop that follows dashed hopes. Pronounced ˈkrest-ˌfȯ-lən, it’s a word that paints disappointment in human terms, without drama, yet with emotional clarity.
Crestfallen is an adjective used to describe someone who feels deeply disappointed, discouraged, or dejected, especially after an expectation is not met. It often refers not just to the feeling itself, but to how visibly it appears on a person’s face or body language.
When someone is crestfallen, their confidence has taken a hit. There’s a sense of deflation, as if something that once stood tall has quietly fallen.
ˈkrest-ˌfȯ-lən
The word crestfallen has roots in medieval imagery. The “crest” refers to the plume or ornament worn atop a helmet, symbolizing pride, honor, or confidence. To be crestfallen literally meant that the crest had drooped or fallen, an outward sign of defeat or loss of status.
Over time, the term evolved from physical imagery to emotional expression, coming to describe the internal experience of disappointment that’s hard to hide.
Why Crestfallen Is So Relevant in Real Life
Disappointment is a universal human experience, and crestfallen gives language to that shared moment. Whether it’s missing out on an opportunity, receiving bad news, or realizing something didn’t work out as hoped, the word fits effortlessly into everyday life.
In relationships, crestfallen feelings can follow misunderstandings or unmet expectations. In careers or studies, they often appear after rejections or setbacks. Naming the emotion matters—it validates the feeling and reminds us that disappointment is part of growth, not a personal failure.
Crestfallen is most often used in storytelling, journalism, or conversation when describing emotional reactions.
Example sentences:
She looked crestfallen when she learned the event had been canceled.
He tried to hide his crestfallen expression after hearing the results.
The team walked off the field crestfallen, knowing how close they had come.
Synonyms:
Disappointed, dejected, disheartened, downcast, discouraged
Does crestfallen always mean sadness?
Not exactly. Crestfallen usually refers to disappointment or discouragement rather than deep sadness, though the feelings can overlap.
Is crestfallen a formal word?
It’s slightly literary but still widely used in modern English, especially in writing and descriptive speech.
What Does “Crestfallen” Mean?
Crestfallen is an adjective used to describe someone who feels deeply disappointed, discouraged, or dejected, especially after an expectation is not met. It often refers not just to the feeling itself, but to how visibly it appears on a person’s face or body language.
When someone is crestfallen, their confidence has taken a hit. There’s a sense of deflation, as if something that once stood tall has quietly fallen.
Pronunciation
The pronunciation of today's ord of the day, "crestfallen" is:ˈkrest-ˌfȯ-lən
The Origin and Literal Meaning
The word crestfallen has roots in medieval imagery. The “crest” refers to the plume or ornament worn atop a helmet, symbolizing pride, honor, or confidence. To be crestfallen literally meant that the crest had drooped or fallen, an outward sign of defeat or loss of status.
Over time, the term evolved from physical imagery to emotional expression, coming to describe the internal experience of disappointment that’s hard to hide.
Why Crestfallen Is So Relevant in Real Life
Disappointment is a universal human experience, and crestfallen gives language to that shared moment. Whether it’s missing out on an opportunity, receiving bad news, or realizing something didn’t work out as hoped, the word fits effortlessly into everyday life.
In relationships, crestfallen feelings can follow misunderstandings or unmet expectations. In careers or studies, they often appear after rejections or setbacks. Naming the emotion matters—it validates the feeling and reminds us that disappointment is part of growth, not a personal failure.
Using “Crestfallen” in Context
Crestfallen is most often used in storytelling, journalism, or conversation when describing emotional reactions.
Example sentences:
She looked crestfallen when she learned the event had been canceled.
He tried to hide his crestfallen expression after hearing the results.
The team walked off the field crestfallen, knowing how close they had come.
Synonyms:
Disappointed, dejected, disheartened, downcast, discouraged
FAQs
Does crestfallen always mean sadness?
Not exactly. Crestfallen usually refers to disappointment or discouragement rather than deep sadness, though the feelings can overlap.
Is crestfallen a formal word?
It’s slightly literary but still widely used in modern English, especially in writing and descriptive speech.
