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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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

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
It involved no sense of the spirituality of the Divine Law, no consciousness of unworthiness, no need of a Savior.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
With an overpowering sense of my own unworthiness, I review the brave deeds of Hippolyte Nikitich.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman

Twas with gratitude––and sure persuasion of unworthiness––that I remembered his affection.
The Cruise of the Shining Light|Norman Duncan
The unworthiness of the minister affects not the validity of his consecrated acts.
Parsifal|H. R. Haweis
Then it is to save her from me that you are marrying her,—so that she may not sink into the abyss of my unworthiness.
An Old Man's Love|Anthony Trollope

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