unworthy

[ uhn-wur-thee ]

/ ʌnˈwɜr ði /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unworthy ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

unwitty, unwonted, unworkable, unworldly, unworried, unworthy, unwound, unwrap, unwreathe, unwrinkle, unwritten

Origin of unworthy

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

SYNONYMS FOR unworthy

3, 4 unseemly, unfit, unsuitable, ignoble.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unworthy ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR unworthy

1 deserving, admirable, commendable.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR unworthy ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for unworthiness

Feelings of shame and unworthiness are universal precursors to one of two things: an act of destruction and an act of heroism.
Marc Webb Takes Us Inside ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ and Discusses His Rise to the A-List|Marlow Stern|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That it stems from an engrained sense of unworthiness and shame is something that Dunne is winningly eager to acknowledge.
After Dominick|J. J. Berzelius|November 7, 2008|DAILY BEAST
As he thought of this he felt almost crushed to the earth by an indomitable bashfulness and conviction of his own unworthiness.
The Small House at Allington|Anthony Trollope
She had cast him out of her friendship because of his unworthiness, but there was a tumult in her heart at sight of him.
Brand Blotters|William MacLeod Raine

But let us rather believe that to tell you of his own unworthiness to your face was an ordeal beyond his strength.
The Talk of the Town, Volume 2 (of 2)|James Payn
This vileness, this notion of unworthiness in Vance, could not be negative merely.
Four Weird Tales|Algernon Blackwood
No parade of her unworthiness; no solemn aspects, nor obtrusive writings of bitter things against herself.
The Allen House|T. S. Arthur

British Dictionary definitions for unworthiness

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

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