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

• unworthiness noun
• unworthily adverb
• self-unworthiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unworthy¹

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

Example Sentences

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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.

Read more on 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.

Read more on Salon

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

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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