worthless
Americanadjective
adjective
-
without practical value or usefulness
-
without merit; good-for-nothing
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of worthless
Explanation
If you have your antique pearl necklace appraised by a jeweler and learn that it's a worthless fake, you'll be terribly disappointed, since something that's worthless has no monetary value. Use the adjective worthless to describe something that has no use or isn't worth any money. Your old broken-down car, a stamp collection with no value, and your no-good roommate who never cleans and won't pay his share of the rent could all be described as worthless. The roots are the Old English words weorð, "equal in value to," and leas, "devoid of."
Vocabulary lists containing worthless
Power Suffix: -less
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Good Riddance
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The libretto gave Kallman “a purpose he otherwise lacked,” transforming him from “an apparently worthless appendage, in the opinion of others,” to “a creative partner.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
They were left worthless as the firm collapsed.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Basically, people are afraid to give up the wealth they already have for a product that may be worthless should they die soon after purchasing it.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 26, 2026
If the stock is $200 at expiration, the call is worth $35, and the puts are worthless.
From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026
But all the words she was gathering to say suddenly felt worthless.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
