unworthy

[ uhn-wur-thee ]

/ ʌnˈwɜr ði /

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adjective, un·wor·thi·er, un·wor·thi·est.

not worthy; lacking worth or excellence.

beneath the dignity (usually followed by of): behavior unworthy of a king.

of a kind not worthy (often followed by of).

not of adequate merit or character.

not commendable or creditable.

not deserving.

noun, plural un·wor·thies.

an unworthy person.

OTHER WORDS FOR unworthy

3, 4 unseemly, unfit, unsuitable, ignoble.

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OPPOSITES FOR unworthy

1 deserving, admirable, commendable.

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QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Origin of unworthy

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; see origin at un-¹, worthy

OTHER WORDS FROM unworthy

un·wor·thi·ly, adverbun·wor·thi·ness, nounself-un·wor·thi·ness, noun

How to use unworthy in a sentence

And with this he confessed to a distinct feeling of littleness, of having acted meanly or unworthily of himself or of her.
Gallegher and Other Stories|Richard Harding Davis
What has America done to give occasion to that King and council to think so unworthily of her.
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. IV (of 12)|Various
Some of them seconded his efforts, but far more regarded them with violent and often unworthily expressed dislike.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 4|Various
Forgive me, dear friend, if I write in the scantiest manner, unworthily responding to letters which have touched me profoundly.
George Eliot's Life, Vol. III (of 3)|George Eliot

The whole of the damnatory clause in the exhortation, from the word "unworthily" to "sundry kinds of death," is expunged.
Lands of the Slave and the Free|Henry A. Murray

British Dictionary definitions for unworthy

unworthy

/ (ʌnˈwɜːðɪ) /

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

Derived forms of unworthy

unworthily, adverbunworthiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

unworthy

OTHER WORDS FOR unworthy

OPPOSITES FOR unworthy

Origin of unworthy

OTHER WORDS FROM unworthy

Words related to unworthy

How to use unworthy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for unworthy

Derived forms of unworthy