unworthy

[uhn-wur-thee]

adjective

unworthier, unworthiest 

1. not worthy; lacking worth or excellence.

   Antonyms: commendable, admirable, deserving

2. beneath the dignity (usually followed byof ).

   behavior unworthy of a king.

3. of a kind not worthy (often followed byof ).

   Synonyms: ignoble, unsuitable, unfit, unseemly

4. not of adequate merit or character.

   Synonyms: ignoble, unsuitable, unfit, unseemly

5. not commendable or creditable.

6. not deserving.

noun

plural

unworthies 

1. an unworthy person.

unworthy

/ ʌnˈwɜːðɪ /

adjective

1. (often foll by of) not deserving or worthy

2. (often foll by of) beneath the level considered befitting (to)

   that remark is unworthy of you

3. lacking merit or value

4. (of treatment) not warranted or deserved

Other Word Forms

• unworthily adverb
• unworthiness noun
• self-unworthiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unworthy¹

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

Example Sentences

Dek and Thia are underestimated and perceived as unworthy of equal treatment, while Bud is a foundling seemingly left to fend for herself.

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It is as socialist as ever but unworthy of the label “democratic.”

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The CHP deemed the creative handiwork unworthy and cited the driver with a fine of $197 for driving without a proper license plates.

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Because scientific advances don’t discriminate between the “worthy” and those considered unworthy, and because some in the billionaire class think they deserve to live much longer than you do.

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This, I think, is crucial: Vance is telling himself, and may actually believe, that this Halloween coalition of precious, privileged, America-haters are the people unworthy of citizenship in the America being made Great Again.

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Related Words

• inappropriate 
• ineligible 
• shameful 
• undeserving www.thesaurus.com
• unfit 
• unsuitable