unworthy
Americanadjective
-
not worthy; lacking worth or excellence.
- Antonyms:
- commendable, admirable, deserving
-
beneath the dignity (usually followed byof ).
behavior unworthy of a king.
-
of a kind not worthy (often followed byof ).
- Synonyms:
- ignoble, unsuitable, unfit, unseemly
-
not of adequate merit or character.
- Synonyms:
- ignoble, unsuitable, unfit, unseemly
-
not commendable or creditable.
-
not deserving.
noun
-
unworthies
plural
adjective
-
(often foll by of) not deserving or worthy
-
(often foll by of) beneath the level considered befitting (to)
that remark is unworthy of you
-
lacking merit or value
-
(of treatment) not warranted or deserved
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of unworthy
Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; see origin at un- 1, worthy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Janson, the author of the “History of Art” textbook, first published in 1962, implied that the regionalist painter was unworthy of scholarly attention.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
It has now been six years since the two men spoke, with Ryu going into seclusion and Ken selling out, hawking products like Duracell while signing up for gimmicky bouts unworthy of his talent.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Real Madrid rejected this clarification, saying it did not mitigate the "institutionally unworthy nature of his statements".
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
“Who are you to call me unworthy or despicable when you don’t even know me!!” she wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
And as I watched the very beautiful, very talented Ms. Taylor back onto the street, the only thing I was thinking was how completely unworthy, how utterly un-Stan, I really was.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
Hollow-eyed, gaunt, gorgeously ravaged – Mourinho was already in the habit of using his increasingly odd post-match press conferences to rail against the moles, traitors, cowards and unworthies inside his own dressing room.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 17, 2015
These unworthies were slammed for their books, which he declared “rubbish” and “awful.”
From New York Times ● Sep. 26, 2012
Both were satisfied that these two unworthies were the guilty parties.
From The Rover Boys Under Canvas or The Mystery of the Wrecked Submarine by Edward Stratemeyer
Those two unworthies had come forth looking both cowed and excited, and they had rushed up to their rooms to pack their belongings without delay.
From The Rover Boys on Snowshoe Island or, The Old Lumberman's Treasure Box by Edward Stratemeyer
It is the measly little unworthies that nag one to desperation.
From The Lady and Sada San A Sequel to the Lady of the Decoration by Frances Little
In the qualities of a ruler he was conspicuously deficient; always dependent on others, he ever inclined to the unworthier master.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10 "Echinoderma" to "Edward" by Various
Ah! that passage of childhood, what a void it makes in the growing heart; and how quietly its place is filled by unworthier influences.
From The Doctor's Daughter by [pseud.] Vera
For I believe in some future life for the lower animals as well as for their unworthier lord; and in the immortality of all creation.
From My Life as an Author by Martin Farquhar Tupper
It was as Margaret Fuller that she took her place among the leading spirits of her time, and made her brave crusade against its unworthier features.
From Margaret Fuller (Marchesa Ossoli) by Julia Ward Howe
The obstinate calumny of his scepticism served as a pretext to the King's conscience for the unworthier instinct of personal dislike.
From Sir Walter Ralegh A Biography by W. (William) Stebbing
Dare to profane with his unworthiest hand that.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
He must no longer love, seek, and esteem himself; but he must account himself to be the unworthiest and most miserable of all creatures.
From True Christianity by Johann Arndt
Your unworthiest Servant Except your accepting have mended him John Donne.
From A Letter Book Selected with an Introduction on the History and Art of Letter-Writing by George Saintsbury
I am the unablest adviser of a thousand, the unworthiest of ten thousand; yet I hope I may presume to assert what follows without just offence.
From The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America by Nathaniel Ward
In her eyes there was that sweet light of expectation and happiness which illuminated all Gabriel's thoughts of her, and persuaded him that he was the happiest and unworthiest of men.
From Trumps by George William Curtis
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
