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Showing results for worthless. Search instead for worthlessly.
Synonyms

worthless

American  
[wurth-lis] / ˈwɜrθ lɪs /

adjective

  1. without worth; of no use, importance, or value; good-for-nothing.

    a worthless person; a worthless contract.
worthless British  
/ ˈwɜːθlɪs /

adjective

  1. without practical value or usefulness

  2. without merit; good-for-nothing

"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

Other Word Forms

  • worthlessly adverb
  • worthlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of worthless

First recorded in 1580–90; worth 1 + -less

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.

An empty glove, worthless without a hand to fill it.

From Literature

Eisenhower's version was "plans are worthless, but planning is everything."

From BBC

If spinning fast was almost worthless in most situations, it happened to be the perfect thing against the marauders.

From Literature

The bits of ground corn used as a base for the dog food are worthless and largely indigestible.

From Literature

If anything proves the market value of seemingly worthless ephemera, Walker added, it’s fans clawing for printed set lists at the end of a concert.

From Los Angeles Times

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.