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

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.

From Salon

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.

From Salon

"I sabotage myself by not asking for help with anything. Asking for equipment, advice or resources feels terrifying. Like I'm unworthy."

From BBC

Men who don’t understand Los Angeles will never understand me, and for that, they’re unworthy of my deftness at loving.

From Los Angeles Times

Which makes this encampment right-wing swing all the more obviously political, and unworthy of our policy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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